Tuscany is the spiritual center of Sangiovese and the home to a handful of other indigenous varietals. It is also one of the first areas in Italy where wineries began to work strongly with international varietals, giving birth to the phrase Super Tuscan. With this spirit in mind, in 1988, Massimo d’Alessandro began studying soils and climates on a section of his family’s property in Cortona and experimented with various grapes for four years. It was determined that Syrah would work best in this area of Tuscany and from 1993 to 2002, Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro gradually planted 40 hectares to this grape.
Il Bosco was the winery’s first flagship wine, a blend of the best grapes from the oldest vineyards on the estate. In 2000 however, it was decided to plant one ideal vineyard to be bottled separately, becoming the winery’s first true cru. Migliara is this vineyard and wine.
We recently had the privilege to purchase a handful of difficult-to-source six-packs from the 2008 vintage. This wine made James Suckling’s 12 Most Collectible Tuscan Wines list in 2011 with the following 98 point review:
“This is phenomenal. What I expect in a top Syrah, with spice, black pepper, mineral, and dark fruits. Full and velvety, with lots of everything. Powerful and intense. Best wine ever from here. Drink or hold.”
Like all great wines, the 2008 Migliara showed power yet elegance, and I was fortunate enough to enjoy it with a meal including both lamb and venison. Regardless what wonderful winter meals you pair this with, at $69.99 you will surely be impressed.