Across-the-Board Love for Super Tuscan Reds from Brancaia!
The 2022 Brancaia "Tre" blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon has earned scores of 90 points or higher from not just one, two or three reviewers, but from a whopping SIX sources, including the Vin Chicago team!
That's a massive amount of agreement from folks who have strong opinions about what makes a wine special. Making things even more enticing, we bring it to you today not for the $25 quoted by Wine Spectator, but for just $17.99.
Pretty darn impressive for a wine that's taken home 542 points over the past eighteen months!
Read on for tasting notes from Wine Spectator, Vinous, Jeb Dunnuck, James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast, and for details on the premium 2021 Brancaia "Ilatraia" which has earned scores up to 96 points from even more sources, then click the Big Green Button to get this Tuscan fun in your glass!
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2022 Brancaia "Tre" Toscana Rosso
Tuscany, Italy
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From their vineyards in Chianti and Maremma, this blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot immediately smells and tastes Tuscan. Bright fruits, red rocks and organic earth lead the way, followed by fresh tart cherry, dried strawberry, cigar wrapper, wet leaves and potpourri flavors that chime in after a few swirls. Boasting fresh acidity and a soft tannic chew, what a fantastic wine for the dinner table! We’re a very happy 90 points, as is just about everyone else...
“Flavors of cherry, strawberry, sanguine, iron and Mediterranean scrub are supported by a solid structure in this red, which is balanced overall, with dusty tannins and a resonant finish. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2040. 27,500 cases made, 10,200 cases imported.”
- 90 Points, Wine Spectator (10/31/2024)
“This is bright and savory with vivid red fruit, dried lavender, orange peel and hints of crushed stones on the nose. Medium-bodied with juicy acidity and a dusty texture to its tannins. Crunchy and vibrant with a peppery aftertaste. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
- 92 Points, James Suckling (7/30/2024)
“The 2022 Tre is a fine entry-level offering. This Sangiovese/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend offers terrific freshness and just enough seriousness to be a perfectly suitable accompaniment at the dinner table. Floral overtones brighten the finish. This mid-weight wine hails from Brancaia's Chianti Classico and Maremma properties. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2030.”
- 90 Points, Vinous - Antonio Galloni (6/2024)
“Displaying a medium red color, the 2022 Tre is fruity and inviting, with aromas of strawberry preserve, hints of pencil shaving, and fresh flowers. Medium-bodied, it is a juicy and easy-going red with a clean finish and an even freshness of acidity. It is highly appealing now and will be best enjoyed over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030.”
- 90 Points, Jeb Dunnuck (10/20/2025)
“The nose is balanced between the tang of bing cherry and blood orange peel and fresh, earthy, herbaceous notes of sage and top soil. Tart blackberries and red plums join the cherries on the plate, while chalky, dense tannins lift a continued, peppery earthiness to preserve balance.”
- 90 Points, Wine Enthusiast (12/31/2024)
Wine Spectator quotes $25. At 28% less, this hits a perfect point on the intersection of price and total Tuscan deliciousness. If you've forgotten just how good a legit 90-point wine can be, here is the perfect reminder!
Vin Chicago Price: 17.99
2021 Brancaia "Ilatraia" Toscana Rosso
Tuscany, Italy
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A blend of 40% Petit Verdot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Ilatraia pours a completely opaque purple/black, staining the edge of your glass. Deep black fruits lead on the nose along with sultry and savory notes of smoke, coffee and soy that expand quickly to include spice, vanilla and clay earth.
Boasting excellent lift and grippy tannins, this decadent red is a blast to drink now following a good decanting, and will be even harder to resist in another two to three years. We are a very solid 93 points. With Wine Advocate chiming in, this one has even more ratings than the Tre, with most in the 94- to 96-point range...
“The Brancaia 2021 Ilatraia is an organic blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. I like the restyled front label design presented with this vintage. This is a bold and generous wine with sweet fruit, blackberry preserves, baking spice and hints of pipe tobacco. The Ilatraia hits the palate with power, but the tannins are softly integrated for a full-bodied but velvety close. Drink Date: 2024 - 2040.”
- 94 Points, Wine Advocate (7/25/2024)
“Aromas of blackcurrants, iodine and oyster shells come through nicely, with graphite as well. Medium- to full-bodied and creamy, with a fine, velvety texture to the tannins and a vivid finish. Caressing at the end. Drink from 2027.”
- 96 Points, James Suckling (4/27/2024)
“A sleek, taut red, bordering on racy, sporting black currant, blackberry, violet and spice aromas and flavors. Firm yet balanced, with a light dusting of tannins lingering. Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 3,333 cases made, 877 cases imported.”
- 93 Points, Wine Spectator (10/31/2024)
“The 2021 Ilatraia, Brancaia's flagship Maremma red, is a fine example of the appellation. Black cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and bittersweet chocolate saturate the palate. This young, vibrant, exotic red needs time to be at its best. Today, it is almost shockingly primary. Drinking Window: 2028 - 2041.”
- 94 Points, Vinous - Antonio Galloni (6/2024)
“A deep and youthful magenta color, the 2021 Ilatraia comes from Maremma-based vines. It is saturating on the nose with aromas of lavender oils, rosemary, plum, gravelly earth, and toasted cedar. The palate is fleshy and full with plush tannins, generous ripe fruit through the midpalate and finish, and pleasing mineral accents on the finish to lift it off the palate. It is going to benefit from another year in bottle to shed its more primary character. Drink over the coming 8-10 years. Maturity: 2025 - 2035.”
- 93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck (10/20/2025)
“The nose is rich and indulgent, with aromas of vanilla, milk chocolate, Luxardo cherry and fresh coffee. The palate is balanced between fresh berries and earth tones, before a compellingly bitter finish of orange peel dipped in dark chocolate. Lithe acid flows around fine grained tannins.”
- 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast (12/31/2024)
Wine Spectator quotes $80. We bring it to you today for 25% less. Just a handful of six-bottle cases to share today.
Vin Chicago Price: 59.99
