Super Tuscan Wines
“Super Tuscan” Wines were born in the 1970’s in a climate of inflexible winemaking rules under the Italian Regulatory Council. Foreign grape varietals were prohibited in Tuscany, and yet visionary wineries such as Antinori saw the potential of great wines by blending the indigenous Tuscan grapes with International varieties. The Regulatory council was not impressed with the initiative shown by these wineries and labeled their wines as “table wines”, which in general are extremely mediocre wines. The fascinating thing, though, was that these wines began to win International awards, acclaim, and eventually extremely high prices. The wines were coined “Super Tuscans” and were fetching a few hundred dollars per bottle for wines such as Sassicaia, Solaia and Tignanello, and yet their appellation was “Vino di Tavola”.
The concept of Super Tuscan wines was to allow for the creativity and quality demands of artisan or innovative vintners, and to bypass the strict laws of the Italian appellation system. The use of international varietals were forbidden in the Italian appellation system, before Super Tuscans, but blended wines (with Italian and foreign grapes) being made were far superior in quality to the local DOCs and yet fell outside of the appellation. With new European Union legislation the appellations were finally changed and expanded to be more inclusive of the Super Tuscans and recognize their quality. The table wine designation for vintage dated wines was dropped and the Italian government was forced to create a new appellation. The Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) regulations were very loose and allowed vintners to do what they wanted for the sake of artisanship. Tuscany was the main region for these types of wines and regulations. The government gave some of the top Super Tuscan wines new appellations such as the now mythical coastal region of Bolgheri, which received its own DOC. Sassicaia wines even received its own appellation within this DOC. A Super Tuscan ranges can be made with 100% Sangiovese (although they rarely are) or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, or tiny amounts of Pinot Noir. This freedom in winemaking allows for a stronger focus on quality and technique.
The first Super Tuscans were made by the aristocratic Antinori family (Tignanello and Solaia, for example), but many other talented winemakers joined the craze. Aljoscha Goldschmidt is a Swiss vintner who works with his wife to produce premium wines and cheeses. His top wine, Il Corzano, blends Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, and scored 93 points on its most recent release. Other great Super Tuscans available are Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia Masseto, a pure merlot cult classic. The Antinori Solaia is one of the originals with a single vineyard of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia Ornellaia, blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. It has been called a cross between Napa Valley and Margaux. The Tua Rita Redigaffi is a Merlot made on the Tuscan coast that commands high prices. The Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is a must for most collectors of Italian wines. It blends Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and requires at least 6 years of aging. Sassicaia is one of the flagship wines of the Super Tuscan tradition. It was created by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta near Bolgheri (in Southern Tuscany) and the Tyrrhenian coast. In 1944 he planted cuttings from Chateau Lafite on his vineyards and brought back French oak barrels for aging. After his nephew Piero Antinori convinced him to sell some of his 1968 vintage, Sassicaia became a legend, winning tastings in London in 1978.
Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic Super Tuscan blend that has been used since 1968, although there is evidence that this blend has been made since the 18th century. Sassicaia was the first wine from a single estate to be granted its own DOC. Many other estates began releasing native Super Tuscans and blending other international and domestic grapes. Super Tuscans are numbered, and sold in elegant bottles with designer labels and creative names to enhance the idea of originality. This creativity although a complement to the creativity of the wines can in some areas create mistrust and an opportunity for black market wines by the lack of government sponsored appellations. As can be expected it creates tension within the winemaking community over techniques and varieties. Super Tuscans are known for their deep colored, full-bodied, balanced red wines. They have a long capacity for aging. The types of international varietals used are expanding and now include such varieties as Syrah and Pinot Noir. New clones are being experimented with to combine international and domestic varietals. Recently the European Union has begun to put restrictions on the wines and the classification system especially the table wines, of which the Super Tuscans are categorized. Even with the strange categorizations it has become known as one of the world’s greatest wine types and Super Tuscans are extremely popular with collectors and at wine auctions.
Here is a list of some of the best Super Tuscan Wines:
Solaia (Antinori)
Tignanello (Antinori)
Sassicaia (Tenuta San Guido)
Petra (Petra)
Ornellaia (Tenuta del Ornellaia)
Balifico (Castello di Volpaia)
Sangioveto (Badia a Coltibuono)
Toro Desiderio (Avignonesi)
Sammarco (Castello di Rampolla)
Corbaia (Castello di Bossi)
Excelsus (Castello di Banfi)
Luce delle Vite (Luce)
Tassinaia (Terriccio)
Lupicaia (Terriccio)
Sammarco (Castello di Rampolla)
Fontalloro (Fattoria di Felsina)
Il Bosco Syrah (Manzano)
Neitea (Mormoraia)
