Rise and shine, Tuscan cognoscenti!

“What a pleasure it is to taste Podere Forte, a small estate that continues to impress for the sheer pedigree of their wines.” – Vinous

And you know what else is equally impressive? Our prices on these wines with a devout following, today only, with a couple of their much rarer gems here in the Store as well. Prego!

A couple of 94/95 scores undermined by a 60% break?! That’s how we roll y’all. Villagio is pure Sangiovese, grown between (Brunello di) Montalcino and (Vino Nobile di) Montepulciano - a terroir described by Forbes being “within spitting distance from Tuscany’s Golden Triangle, yet under the radar, Val d’Orcia is an unspoiled territory of beauty and wine.”

Vinous has the long story: “Forte is part of a group of Italian businessmen that define the entrepreneurial spirit of Italy’s northern provinces. That same drive informs the wines at this sprawling estate in the Val d’Orcia. Forte has spared no expense in what is one of the most beautiful estates and well-thought-out wineries I have ever seen anywhere in the world. The attention to detail in the vineyards is impressive, while the cellar is impeccably clean, something that is quite rare in Tuscany.”

Galloni continues… “I have long admired these wines… Forte continues to snap up property in an effort to revitalize the surrounding area. His informal restaurant Perilla in Rocca d’Orcia is fabulous, while a Relais & Chateau hotel is in the development stages. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see how things play out in the coming years, but there is little question Pasquale Forte is a visionary and that the region is incredibly fortunate he has chosen to invest his money and, more importantly, his time, here rather than somewhere else. That much is obvious.”

Equally obvious is the excellence of what’s in the glass when biodynamics in the vineyard is the starting point. Dusty, redolent cherries all day, with layers of dried herbs, cocoa powder, and sweet vanilla tones underlined by superb vibrance and juicy, weightlessly echoing streaks of red currants and pomegranate leave the palate yearning for more. All that for how much? Seriously?!

Back to Forbes on the Orcia Valley and hidden gems like this, “No disrespect to Brunello or Chianti, but they’re not the only games in Tuscan town.”

94-95 Points – James Suckling

“Sweet berry and spice on the nose with some tar and ash undertones. It’s full-bodied, yet agile and rather weightless with dusty tannins that are layered and polished. Long finish.”

94 Points – Falstaff

“Radiant ruby red. Rich cherries on the nose, discreet notes of tree-ripe plums, wood, slight aromas of marzipan and dried roses. Shows itself with warm-hearted fruit on the palate, full-bodied, powerful, very elegant wood accompanies the course, still very young, great ageing potential.”