Merlot in Tuscany

Marchesi Antinori ★ 4.9

The Antinori family has produced wine in Tuscany since 1385. Anchored by the Tignanello estate in Chianti Classico, the parent house also owns Bolgheri's Guado al Tasso under a separate producer slug.

Tasting: Antinori nel Chianti Classico cellar at Bargino offers visits, tastings and the Rinuccio 1180 restaurant; multi-tier tasting programmes by reservation.

Signature wines: tignanello, solaia, marchese-antinori-chianti-classico-riserva, villa-antinori-chianti-classico-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 96 (2019)

Castello di Ama ★ 4.8

Founded in 1972 in the hamlet of Ama at Gaiole in Chianti, the estate produces single-vineyard Gran Selezione bottlings from Bellavista and La Casuccia and pairs the wine programme with a contemporary art collection.

Tasting: Cellar tour, hamlet walk, art collection and tasting flight bookable through the estate; the property hosts a contemporary art programme with installations by Anish Kapoor and Louise Bourgeois.

Signature wines: castello-di-ama-vigneto-bellavista, castello-di-ama-vigneto-la-casuccia, castello-di-ama-haiku, castello-di-ama-l-apparita

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

San Felice ★ 4.6

Castelnuovo Berardenga estate combining a Relais & Chateaux resort with a Chianti Classico programme that recovered the indigenous Pugnitello grape from near-extinction.

Tasting: The Borgo San Felice resort hosts cellar tours, tasting flights and a vineyard experience programme; the property includes a Relais & Chateaux hotel.

Signature wines: san-felice-il-grigio-gran-selezione, san-felice-vigorello, san-felice-pugnitello

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Castello di Volpaia ★ 4.7

ICEA-organic certified estate on a fortified hamlet at 600 metres in Radda in Chianti, with the cellar dispersed through medieval buildings owned by the Mascheroni Stianti family.

Tasting: The fortified medieval hamlet of Volpaia houses the cellar across the village buildings; tastings, cellar walks and Bottega lunches by booking.

Signature wines: castello-di-volpaia-coltassala, castello-di-volpaia-il-puro-gran-selezione, castello-di-volpaia-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Querciabella ★ 4.7

Greve in Chianti estate founded 1974 by the Castiglioni family. Demeter-certified biodynamic with vegan vinification practices; Camartina is the long-running Sangiovese-Cabernet IGT.

Tasting: Tastings and estate visits by appointment; the entire farming operation is Demeter biodynamic and the cellar uses no animal products in vinification.

Signature wines: querciabella-camartina, querciabella-batar, querciabella-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 94 (2018)

Castello di Querceto ★ 4.4

Francois family estate in Greve in Chianti dating to 1897, set around a medieval castle. Il Picchio Gran Selezione anchors a Sangiovese-led range alongside Super Tuscan IGT bottlings.

Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights from the medieval castle property; on-site agriturismo accommodation.

Signature wines: castello-di-querceto-il-picchio, castello-di-querceto-la-corte, castello-di-querceto-chianti-classico-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2019), Vinous 92 (2018)

Castello Banfi ★ 4.6

Single largest Brunello estate at 850 hectares of vineyards inside Montalcino. Mariani family-owned since 1978 and home to the Castello di Poggio alle Mura medieval fortress and Relais hotel.

Tasting: Castello Banfi houses a Relais & Chateaux hotel, restaurants, an enoteca and the Banfi glass-and-wine museum; cellar tours and tasting flights run daily.

Signature wines: banfi-poggio-alle-mura-brunello, banfi-brunello-di-montalcino, banfi-summus, banfi-poggio-all-oro-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2016), Vinous 94 (2016)

Poggio Antico ★ 4.6

High-elevation estate at 450-500 metres in the southern Montalcino. Certified organic with ICEA, producing structured age-worthy Brunello and the Altero IGT Sangiovese.

Tasting: Estate visits, tastings and on-site restaurant overlooking the southern Montalcino vineyards.

Signature wines: poggio-antico-brunello-di-montalcino, poggio-antico-brunello-riserva, poggio-antico-altero

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2016), Vinous 94 (2016)

Il Poggione ★ 4.8

Franceschi-family estate founded 1890 in Sant'Angelo in Colle, southern Montalcino. Vigna Paganelli Riserva uses the estate's oldest Sangiovese Grosso vines planted in 1964.

Tasting: Estate tours, cellar visits and tasting flights at Sant'Angelo in Colle by appointment.

Signature wines: il-poggione-brunello-di-montalcino, il-poggione-vigna-paganelli-riserva, il-poggione-rosso-di-montalcino

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2016), Vinous 96 (2016)

Argiano ★ 4.9

Renaissance villa estate at Sant'Angelo in Colle dating to 1580. Wine Spectator named the 2018 Brunello its Wine of the Year for 2023 (95 points), the first Italian wine to claim that ranking in two decades.

Tasting: Cellar tours, tasting flights and the Casa di Argiano dining experience at the Renaissance villa.

Signature wines: argiano-brunello-di-montalcino, argiano-vigna-del-suolo, argiano-solengo

Scores: Wine Spectator 95 (2018), Wine Advocate 93 (2018)

Avignonesi ★ 4.8

Montepulciano estate acquired by Belgian shipowner Virginie Saverys in 2009 and converted to Demeter-certified biodynamics. The Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo from Sangiovese remains a benchmark of the style.

Tasting: Cellar tours, Vin Santo vinsantaia tastings and estate lunches by reservation; certified biodynamic by Demeter.

Signature wines: avignonesi-vino-nobile, avignonesi-grandi-annate, avignonesi-occhio-di-pernice, avignonesi-50-50

Scores: Vinous 95 (2017)

Poderi Boscarelli ★ 4.7

De Ferrari Corradi family estate at Cervognano, 16 hectares of high-density Prugnolo Gentile. The Vigna del Nocio Vino Nobile, from a single 1968-planted vineyard, is the flagship.

Tasting: Boutique cellar visits and tastings by appointment; the Vigna del Nocio single-vineyard is the estate's calling card.

Signature wines: boscarelli-vigna-del-nocio, boscarelli-vino-nobile, boscarelli-boscarelli-igt

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2019)

Salcheto ★ 4.6

Off-grid solar-powered cellar at Montepulciano, certified organic by CCPB. Salco Evoluzione is the Riserva flagship; the estate publishes a carbon-footprint declaration on every label.

Tasting: Tours of the off-grid energy-independent cellar, tastings and a restaurant overlooking Montepulciano; certified organic.

Signature wines: salcheto-salco-evoluzione-vino-nobile-riserva, salcheto-vino-nobile, salcheto-rosso-di-montepulciano

Scores: Wine Advocate 94 (2017), Vinous 93 (2018)

Poliziano ★ 4.7

Carletti family estate founded 1961 at the foot of Montepulciano. The Asinone single-vineyard Vino Nobile, named after the donkey-shaped hillside, is among the most consistently reviewed wines of the DOCG.

Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights by appointment; the Asinone single-vineyard Vino Nobile is the flagship.

Signature wines: poliziano-asinone, poliziano-vino-nobile, poliziano-le-stanze

Scores: Wine Advocate 94 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia ★ 4.9

Bolgheri estate founded by Lodovico Antinori in 1981 and fully owned by Frescobaldi since 2005. Bordeaux-cloned reds with Masseto and Ornellaia as flagships; the estate is ICEA-organic certified.

Tasting: Cellar tours, vineyard walks and tutored tastings by appointment; the Vendemmia d'Artista label programme is on display at the cellar.

Signature wines: ornellaia, le-volte-dell-ornellaia, ornellaia-bianco, le-serre-nuove-dell-ornellaia

Scores: Wine Spectator 96 (1998), Wine Advocate 98 (2015)

Masseto ★ 5.0

A 7-hectare blue-clay Merlot parcel inside the Ornellaia estate. First released as a separate brand in 1986. Now operates with its own dedicated cellar opened in 2020; widely considered Italy's most prestigious Merlot.

Tasting: Visits to the dedicated Masseto cellar by very limited appointment; one of Italy's hardest-to-secure cellar tours.

Signature wines: masseto, massetino

Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2001), Wine Advocate 100 (2015)

Tenuta Guado al Tasso ★ 4.8

Antinori's Bolgheri estate, established as a standalone vineyard in 1990 from the family's 1932 land purchase. 320 hectares; Guado al Tasso Superiore is flagship.

Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and the Osteria Magona village kitchen at Bolgheri; bookings via the Antinori hospitality desk.

Signature wines: guado-al-tasso, il-bruciato, scalabrone, matarocchio

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 97 (2018)

Le Macchiole ★ 4.8

Family estate founded 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi; Cinzia Merli has led the property since his death in 2002. Single-varietal Cabernet Franc (Paleo), Merlot (Messorio) and Syrah (Scrio) bottlings; CCPB-organic certified.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tutored tastings by appointment; vegan vinification practices used since 2014.

Signature wines: le-macchiole-paleo-rosso, le-macchiole-messorio, le-macchiole-scrio, le-macchiole-bolgheri-rosso

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 96 (2019)

Grattamacco ★ 4.7

The second estate to release a Bolgheri red after Sassicaia, founded 1977. Acquired by Claudio Tipa's ColleMassari group in 2002; CCPB-organic certified since 2014.

Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and tastings by appointment; certified organic since 2014.

Signature wines: grattamacco-bolgheri-superiore, grattamacco-bolgheri-rosso, grattamacco-grattamacco-bianco

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

Fattoria Le Pupille ★ 4.8

Maremma estate built by Elisabetta Geppetti from her 1985 inheritance into the region's reference producer. Saffredi (Cabernet-Merlot-Alicante IGT) and Morellino anchor the range.

Tasting: Cellar tours, vineyard walks and tasting flights by reservation; Saffredi is the long-running Super Tuscan flagship.

Signature wines: le-pupille-saffredi, le-pupille-poggio-valente, le-pupille-morellino-di-scansano

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

Rocca di Frassinello ★ 4.6

Joint venture between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), housed in a Renzo Piano-designed cellar at Gavorrano. Baffonero, a 100% Merlot, is the prestige bottling.

Tasting: Tours of the Renzo Piano-designed cellar, vineyard walks and tasting flights by reservation; the cellar's underground barrel hall is a destination in itself.

Signature wines: rocca-di-frassinello, rocca-di-frassinello-baffonero, rocca-di-frassinello-le-sughere

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 94 (2018)

Castello di Nipozzano ★ 4.7

Frescobaldi's Rufina estate, in the family since 1000 AD and on its current 250-hectare scale since the mid-19th century. Montesodi single-vineyard Sangiovese is the long-running flagship.

Tasting: Castle tours, cellar visits, vineyard tastings and lunch in the medieval estate by reservation; one of the Frescobaldi estate-visit anchors.

Signature wines: nipozzano-vecchie-viti, nipozzano-montesodi, nipozzano-chianti-rufina-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo ★ 4.7

Frescobaldi's Montalcino estate, acquired in 1989. 235 hectares of Sangiovese Grosso in the western reaches of the appellation; Ripe al Convento is the Riserva from oldest vines.

Tasting: Estate tours, Brunello cellar visits and tasting flights by reservation; Luce della Vite is bottled separately on a neighbouring property.

Signature wines: castelgiocondo-brunello-di-montalcino, castelgiocondo-ripe-al-convento-riserva, castelgiocondo-lamaione

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2016), Vinous 94 (2016)

Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni ★ 4.5

The Frescobaldi family's oldest property, in continuous family ownership since the 11th century. 110 hectares of vines in Montespertoli; Giramonte is the Bordeaux-blended IGT flagship.

Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and tasting flights at the Castiglioni manor; Tenuta di Castiglioni is the historical Frescobaldi family property.

Signature wines: castiglioni-giramonte, castiglioni-chianti, castiglioni-tenuta-di-castiglioni

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2019), Vinous 93 (2018)

Tua Rita ★ 4.8

Suvereto estate founded 1984; Redigaffi, a 100% Merlot, scored 100 points from Wine Advocate for the 2000 vintage and put the Val di Cornia on the Super Tuscan map.

Tasting: Cellar tours, vineyard walks and tasting flights by appointment at Suvereto, just south of Bolgheri.

Signature wines: tua-rita-redigaffi, tua-rita-giusto-di-notri, tua-rita-perlato-del-bosco

Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2000), Vinous 97 (2019)

Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio ★ 4.8

1,200-hectare estate at Gaiole in Chianti with 240 hectares under vine. Bettino Ricasoli codified the modern Chianti formula here in 1872; the family has owned the castle since 1141 and produces Gran Selezione plus the Casalferro IGT.

Tasting: Cellar visits, guided tastings, wine shop, agriturismo, and the Osteria del Castello restaurant at the Madonna a Brolio property. Open daily 10:00 to 19:00.

Signature wines: castello-di-brolio-gran-selezione, colledila-gran-selezione, casalferro, brolio-bettino

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), James Suckling 96 (2019)

Marchesi Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli ★ 4.8

Mazzei has owned Castello di Fonterutoli at Castellina since 1435. Today 117 hectares of vineyards across 120 parcels, with the Castello Fonterutoli Gran Selezione, the Sangiovese-Merlot Siepi IGT, and the 1981-launched Concerto.

Tasting: Estate tour and tasting at the Fonterutoli hamlet, plus the Osteria di Fonterutoli restaurant; booking via mazzei.it. The cellar at Castellina is open by appointment.

Signature wines: castello-fonterutoli-gran-selezione, siepi, concerto-di-fonterutoli, poggio-badiola

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), James Suckling 97 (2019)

Petrolo ★ 4.8

31-hectare estate in upper Val d'Arno owned by the Sanjust family since 1947. The Galatrona vineyard produces a 100 percent Merlot widely cited among Italy's top Merlots; Torrione and Boggina cover Sangiovese under the Val d'Arno di Sopra DOC.

Tasting: Estate tasting and cellar visits by appointment; multiple agriturismo properties (La Villa, Boggina, La Vigna, La Costa, Feriale) on the estate.

Signature wines: galatrona, boggina-c, torrione

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), James Suckling 97 (2019)

Azienda Agricola Cesani ★ 4.5

Cesani family estate at Pancole near San Gimignano, founded 1951 when Guido and Annunziata Cesani acquired the property. Long-time organic producer of Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG plus Chianti Colli Senesi and Toscana IGT reds.

Tasting: Estate tastings, vineyard walks, and agriturismo at Pancole 6 km from San Gimignano; booking via the estate site.

Signature wines: cesani-vernaccia-di-san-gimignano, cesani-clamys-vernaccia, cesani-luenzo, cesani-chianti-colli-senesi

Scores: Wine Advocate 92 (2021), Vinous 91 (2021)

Antinori nel Chianti Classico Tasting Cellars ★ 4.8

Marchesi Antinori's signature Chianti Classico cellar in Bargino, opened 2012. Spiral staircase and rooftop vineyard architecture; flights cover the estate wines including Tignanello and Solaia.

Enoteca Italiana Siena ★ 4.5

Italy's oldest official wine promoting organisation, set inside the Medicean Fortress in Siena. Showroom with more than 1,600 Italian wines and a tasting bar across the bastion vaults.

Enoteca La Fortezza di Montalcino ★ 4.5

Founded 1980 inside the medieval fortress walls of Montalcino, with Val d'Orcia panoramas from the ramparts. Specialises in Brunello di Montalcino verticals and Rosso di Montalcino flights.

Enoteca di Piazza Montalcino ★ 4.4

Family-run since 2004 by the Fedolfi family, with multiple shop fronts across Montalcino. Enomatic-driven tasting room covering 40 Brunello producers side by side; staff sommelier on call.

Castello Banfi L'Enoteca ★ 4.6

The Castello Banfi tasting room inside the 14th-century Poggio alle Mura castle, with the Bottle and Glass Museum next door. Flights cover the full Banfi range from Pinot Grigio to Brunello Riserva Poggio alle Mura.

Castello di Verrazzano Tasting Cellars ★ 4.4

Tour the cellars of this organic Greve estate, named for the navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano. Flight programme covers Chianti Classico, Riserva, the Sassello IGT, and Vin Santo of the property.

Grattamacco Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Bolgheri's second-oldest winery, with a hilltop tasting terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast. Flights include Bolgheri Rosso DOC, L'Alberello and Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore DOC.

Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Tasting Cellars ★ 4.6

Marchesi Frescobaldi's flagship Montalcino estate, founded as a fortress in 1100. Cellar tour ends in tastings of CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino and the Lamaione single-vineyard Merlot.

Massa Vecchia ★ 4.5

Massa Marittima estate working biodynamically since 2004. Native-yeast, low-sulfite reds, whites and roses from the Maremma's metalliferous hills.

Tip: Tastings are by appointment only; ask for the rose and the white Vermentino alongside the Sangiovese-led reds.

Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico DOCG ★ 4.5

High-elevation Radda annata from the medieval Volpaia village. Cool-site Sangiovese gives mountain-Chianti lift and red-cherry-and-violet poise for under twenty euros at the cellar door.

Tip: The 18-euro at-cellar price for the latest annata is one of the best deals in Chianti Classico; order a case before leaving the village.

Moris Farms Morellino di Scansano DOCG ★ 4.3

Parentini family Morellino, with a Sangiovese-led blend that captures the coastal Mediterranean Maremma character. Forward fruit, soft tannin, sub-twenty-euro price band.

Tip: A textbook Maremma Sangiovese for dinner with rosemary lamb or pappa al pomodoro.

Castello Banfi Centine Toscana IGT ★ 4.1

Castello Banfi entry-level IGT, named after a 19th-century farmhouse on the Montalcino estate. Sangiovese-Cabernet-Merlot blend made for everyday drinking at around twelve to thirteen euros.

Tip: True under-15-euro Tuscan wine that punches above its weight on weeknight pasta with red sauce.

Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico DOCG ★ 4.0

Castellina-based Zingarelli family blend pouring under twenty euros at most Italian retailers. A reliable Chianti Classico annata template: Sangiovese fruit, light international wood polish, ready to drink.

Tip: Available in most Tuscan supermarkets; pair with cinghiale-sauce pappardelle on weeknights.