Cerbaiona, Toscana, 2006

Cerbaiona, Toscana, 2006 is a Super Tuscan from a small estate in Montalcino. Produced on a relatively new vineyard planted in the early 1980’s by Diego Molinari, a retired Alitalia pilot and his wife Nora. Relying on old techniques that few producers still use today in favor of new world styles some winemakers are using today to create a new style of wine in an ancient wine region.
The Cerbaiona, Toscana 2006 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese. It pours a rich dark garnet red color. The nose at first is more barnyard than elegant. When the wine starts to open aromas of cherry, blueberry and raspberry emerge, with the barnyard nose fading but still there. The palate comes alive with cherry, tobacco and pencil lead with medium tannins leading to a nice smooth finish.
The grapes used are organic and aged in large oak casks to let the grapes do the talking, not being masked by small toasted oak barrels. These wines are also unfiltered, the winemakers don’t want the wine to be influenced by anything but the grapes used to make it. This wine would go great with cinghiale (wild boar) stew served over fresh made fettuccini or pappardelle. This wine is drinking fine now, but should still age gracefully over the next few years as well. The Cerbaiona, Toscana, 2006 deserves some slots in your cava.