Badia a Coltibuono, Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) 2015

 It is easy to imagine yourself curled up in a wing-back chair in front a cozy fire with a glass of this seductive wine.  Subtle, ripe black cherry fruit is layered with cedar, tobacco, toasted spices lifted by fresh, bright acidity and supported by velvet-smooth tannins.  You can also enjoy it with a perfectly seared steak.  Montebello is the name of the vineyard where the nine varieties included in the blend were grown.  It is their only single vineyard wine, since grapes for their Chiantis are sourced from multiple sites.  Roberto Stucchi Prinetti, co-owner and winemaker, considers it an homage to old Chianti Classico because it is an equal blend of traditional varieties.  Today it cannot be labeled Chianti Classico since Sangiovese must be at least 80 percent of the blend.  “You could call it a Super Tuscan in the sense that it is not Chianti Classico, but it is truly Super Tuscan,” he said.  “No international varieties, but a very complex blend of indigenous ones.”  The first vintage was 2011 and is usually produced every other year due to small production.