October 2002
Tuscany Wine Guide - Le Sorgenti
Le Sorgenti Chianti named "knockout bargain" by the Tuscany Wine Guide (in Fact Sheet: Tuscany, by Richard Nalley)
The Italian quality revolution of the past decade or so has transformed Tuscany, producing wines that are rounder, less tannic and easier to drink when young. Alas, they're more expensive, too, though bargains can still be had.
Salute To Sangiovese: Tuscany is the kingdom of the Sangiovese grape, responsible for so many wines - from simple reds to noble, complex bottles capable of aging for decades.
Chianti And Beyond: The biggest name of all, of course, is Chianti, Italy's most favorite wine, which accounts for a staggering eight million cases a year. Sangiovese is not only the major grape of Chianti but also the grape of Brunello di Montalcino - a deep red, often cellar-worthy, mostly luxury-priced wine - and the wines of Vino Noble do Montepulciano, Montalcino's value-priced neighbor and would-be rival.
Placing in the 10 top bottles
2000 Fattoria Le Sorgenti Chianti Colli Fiorentini ($13) This winery set in the hills (colli) above Florence has produced a knockout bargain - juicy but possessed of a refinement usually found in much more expensive bottles.
