2017 Cantine Dei Toscano Rosso 'Sancta Catharina'

30% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot from Dei’s estate vineyards in Montepulciano. Ages one year in new Allier French oak. 14% alcohol. This is a rare chance to enjoy this delicious Super Tuscan with a decade of bottle age already on it. Full bodied and bone dry, mixing the French varietals’ inky blackberry, cherry cordial, plum and dark chocolate notes with Sangiovese’s characteristic savory notes of tobacco, earth and iron, all supported by the nicely integrated new oak notes. Tannins are still there but beginning to soften. This is more of a modern style and very well done. Drink now and over the next ten years. 

95 points, Wine Spectator. "Smooth and laced with plum, blackberry, leather and mineral aromas and flavors, this red combines power and elegance. Solidly built, with the assertive tannins of the vintage, yet the lasting impression is one of sweet, ripe fruit. Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2042. ‡B.S."

94+ points, Vinous Media. "The 2017 Sancta Catharina seduces the senses with a bouquet that mixes plum sauce with black cherries, grilled herbs and cocoa hints. This is undeniably elegant in feel, with masses of dark red fruits and sweet spices contrasted by saline minerals and a coating of fine-grained tannins that saturate deeply with each sip. The 2017 finishes structured, youthfully chewy and with incredible length, leaving mint, licorice and clove notes lingering for up to a minute. The balance achieved here is exceptional, especially considering the warm and dry conditions of the vintage. The Sancta Catharina will require cellaring to come fully into focus, but it will be worth the wait. This is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 30% Sangiovese, and 10% Petit Verdot."