Barone Ricasoli Casalferro 2010 Wine Adventure JournalOur Wine Of The Week is Barone Ricasoli Casalferro 2010. Like most Wine Adventurers, I like to buy wine at the source when visiting fun tasting destinations. This 100% Merlot from the Chianti region of Tuscany was sipped in the winery’s tasting room and shipped home during a trip to Italy in 2015. This is Sangiovese country, but small patches of other grapes are often used to round out 25% or less of blends the region is most famous for. This pure Merlot comes from a single patch of rocky, chalky soil that seems well-suited for the varietal.

The 2010 vintage spent 18 months in 30% new oak barrels to produce a very smooth wine with 14.5% alcohol. Sips reveal hearty red fruits with hints of chocolate. Ratings for the vintage: James Suckling – 94;  Robert Parker – 92;  Wine Spectator – 91. Unlike Sangiovese-based wines produced in the area that should age 10 to 20 years before drinking, tannins in this Merlot soften to sippable after 6 or 7 years. Retail price at the tasting room was about 2/3 the price charged in U.S. wine shops, though this is one of the more affordable Italian imported wines with consistent 90+ point ratings. The 2010 is difficult to find, but 2013 is available through Wine.com at about $70 and scores are comparable to the 2010 vintage. Check out our Wine Deals page for the current price.

For more about the winery, region and wines, click here: Barone Ricasoli.

Cheers!

Barone Ricasoli winery seen from Castello Di Brolio Wine Adventure Journal

I snapped this photo of Barone Ricasoli winery from Castello Di Brolio.

 

Barone Ricasoli map and Barbara at wine shop

Barone Ricasoli castle and winery are located about 20 kilometers northeast of Siena.

 

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