Tignanello, Toscana IGT 2010 75cl

This is the kind of Tuscan red you open when dinner deserves a little ceremony, but nobody at the table wants a wine lecture. From Tuscany’s Toscana IGT, Tignanello 2010 blends Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, giving you a dry, full-bodied red wine with Italian brightness and Bordeaux-style depth in the same glass. Fancy on paper. Ridiculously drinkable in practice.

The big win here is balance. Sangiovese brings that lifted cherry snap and food-loving acidity, while Cabernet Sauvignon adds blackcurrant, structure and grip. Cabernet Franc sneaks in with herbs, spice and a little floral edge. So what does that mean for you? A wine that has layers to explore, but doesn’t make you work for every sip.

• Appearance: Deep ruby moving toward garnet at the rim, showing the 2010 vintage has picked up some lovely maturity.
• Nose: Dark cherry, cassis, dried violets and tobacco first, then cedar, leather, warm spice and a hint of earthy Tuscan dust.
• Palate: Dry and concentrated, with ripe black fruit, sour cherry, savoury herbs and cocoa. The acidity stays bright, while the tannins feel firm, polished and dinner-ready.
• Body: Full-bodied, but not heavy. It has weight, structure and enough freshness to keep the next sip coming.
• Finish: Long and layered, with black cherry, cedar, tobacco leaf and a mineral, savoury edge that hangs around beautifully.
• Food pairings: Roast lamb with rosemary, bistecca alla Fiorentina, porcini risotto, slow-braised beef ragu, or aged pecorino.

If you’ve been drinking Chianti Classico and want to understand why people get so animated about Super Tuscan wines, this is one of the clearest places to start. You still get Sangiovese’s red-fruited, savoury personality, but the Cabernet grapes turn up the depth, structure and black-fruit intensity. Think of it as Tuscany with broader shoulders.

The 2010 vintage matters here. Time has softened the edges and pulled out those savoury secondary flavours: leather, cedar, dried herbs and tobacco. It’s no longer just about fruit, which is exactly the point. Give it a proper decant before serving, especially if you’re opening it with a big meal. Let it stretch its legs.

This isn’t a casual “whatever’s open” pour. It’s for roast dinners, milestone nights, collectors who like their reds with age, or curious drinkers ready to see what happens when Tuscany breaks the old rulebook. It’s confident without being shouty. Structured without being stern. Basically, the grown-up at the table who’s secretly the most fun.

Fun Fact: Tignanello helped kick open the door for the Super Tuscan movement by stepping outside traditional Chianti rules and using Cabernet alongside Sangiovese. A rule-breaker from Tuscany that became a benchmark. Not bad for a bottle with a rebellious streak.