Ruffino Romitorio di Santedame Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG is made from 90% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino.
Romitorio di Santedame, a limited-production Gran Selezione from Castellina in Chianti, pays homage to a rich history while embracing a bright future. It originates from a single vineyard within the Chianti Classico's "golden basin" (Conca d'Oro) and is crafted from an exclusive blend of Sangiovese and Colorino. The latter is a native Tuscan grape variety that was nearly extinct but has experienced a revival through dedicated research and promotion efforts.
Fruity aromas typical of Sangiovese, including black cherry and ripe plum, with violet and complex chocolate and black pepper notes. The palate offers sweet tobacco and balsamic hints, while its balanced structure with refined tannins and lively acidity makes it suitable for extended aging.
Review:
You feel the oak here, suggesting vanilla and clove character, but it’s very well complemented by the dark fruit, ranging from blackberries to mulberries to dark cherries. Full-bodied, dense and decadent with a regal structure and muscular tannin backbone. The acidity cuts nicely through on the long finish and provides freshness. Drink from 2024.
-James Suckling 94 Points
Argot Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Sonoma Pinot Noir.
Inheriting an unbroken string of success, the "Bastard Tongue" arrives fully-formed and ready to impress. Always a blend from multiple Pinot Noir vineyards, this iteration of "BT" was selected from three distinct sites, each making their own unique contribution of Sonoma County terroir to the wine's character.
Exploding forth on a tidal wave of high-toned, intense red and black fruits, this is a Pinot Noir that no stemware can contain. The palate's profound depth is balanced by an inherent freshness, allowing the wine to crackle with brambly energy, while sustained by bass notes of underbrush, black tea, pie spice and baker's chocolate. A formidable rendition of "Bastard Tongue", and a deserving successor to its line.
Night harvested by hand throughout September, cluster and berry sorted by hand, de-stemmed, no crushing. 7-day cold soaks, followed by native fermentation in open-top bins. Average time on the skins, 14 days. Aging 22 months in French oak barriques (95% new). Never racked prior to bottling. Bottled unfined, unfiltered.
Very versatile for pairing. Goes well with grilled meat, vegetable, fish, poultry and cheese.
Review:
"The 2023 'Bastard Tongue' is an utterly delicious Pinot Noir from Argot. It is both vibrant and expressive, with lifted aromas of raspberries, dark cherries and sweet cranberries woven together with notes of lavender, dried violets, baking spices, tea leaf, and mossy notes that remain persistent throughout. On the palate, it reveals a mouthwatering core of juicy red/dark fruit wrapped in supple tannins, with a gorgeous silky texture that speaks to its finesse. What sets this wine apart is its freshness—bright acidity energizes the layers of flavor, giving the wine a lively structure and a clean, extended finish. It's a Pinot Noir that balances depth and elegance with remarkable complexity." - 97 Points, International Wine Report
"Explosive red fruits, cool pine forest, loamy underbrush, five-spice and bakers chocolate. This wine marches down the palate with red-fleshed strawberries, Luxardo cherries and a hint of blood orange. As the finish spins into infinity, the fruit profile evolves from red to black, crescendoing on the palate's persistent lift of sweet and floral spice notes. Magnificent." - 96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck