Help choosing some Tuscan wines

I would like to try a range of Tuscan reds and wonder if some of you would be willing to help. I have pasted below a list of Tuscan's readily available to me. I know it is a lot to ask, but if anyone would be willing to look through the list and offer some guidance, it would be most appreciated. Unless a specific vintage is listed, assume current release. I would envision trying them sooner than later, so a bias toward drinking in the next year or two would be great. Thanks in advance.



A Mano Chianti $8.49
Altesino Rosso di Altesino $15.99
2003 Antinori Bolgheri Guado al Tasso Tenuta Belvedere $85.99
Antinori Santa Cristina $10.99
2005 Antinori Tignanello $99.99
Atreus Rosso di Montalcino $17.99
Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Cetamura $11.99
Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva $31.99
Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Roberto Stucchi $18.99
Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico $25.99
Bellini Chianti Classico $15.99
Bellini Chianti Riserva $14.99
Bellini Chianti Rufina Riserva $14.99
Bellini Chianti $9.99
Bellini Chianti $9.99
Bolla Chianti $8.99
Bolla Sangiovese $8.99
Campobello Chianti $8.99
Cantina Gattavecchi Rosso di Montalcino $14.99
Cantina Gattavecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva $24.99
Cantina Gattavecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $19.99
Cantina Sant Andrea Chianti Classico Riserva $17.99
Cantina Sant Andrea Chianti Classico $14.99
Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva $22.99
Carpineto Dogajolo IGT $10.99
Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva $29.99
Casalino Brunello di Montalcino $29.99
Casalino Chianti Classico Riserva $14.99
Casalino Chianti Classico $12.99
Casarta Chianti Classico $14.99
2003 Casisano Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino $49.99
2004 Casisano Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino $49.99
Casisano Colombaio Rosso di Montalcino $16.99
2003 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino $56.99
Castello Banfi Centine $10.99
Castello Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva $15.29
Castello Banfi Chianti Classico $12.99
Castello Banfi Col Di Sasso $9.49
Castello Banfi Pinot Grigio San Angelo $14.99
Castello d'Albola Chianti Classico $13.99
Castello di Fonterutoli Badiola Toscana Rosso $17.99
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva $21.99
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico $10.99
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti $7.49
Castello di Monastero Chianti Classico $17.99
Castello di Monastero Vin Santo (500 ml) $39.99
Castello di Tavolese Rosso $24.99
Castello di Tavolese Rubicondo $16.99
Castello di Trebbio Chianti Rufina $11.99
Cecchi Chianti Classico $12.99
2001 Coldisole Brunello di Montalcino $59.99
Conte Priola Chianti Reserva $12.99
Conte Priola Chianti $7.99
Cosimo Taurino Salice Salentino $10.99
Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $29.99
Ecco Domani Chianti $10.99
Elmo Pio Chianti $9.99
Farnese Sangiovese $8.49
Fattoria di Lucignano Chianti $14.79
Fattoria Monte Chianti Rufina Reserva $15.99
Fratelli d'Italia Chianti $7.99
Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano $21.99
Il Bastardo Sangiovese $7.99
IL Pozzo Chianti Rufina Riserva $15.99
La Mandria Chianti Classico $21.99
Laurella Chianti $9.99
Le Lodole Rosso di Toscana $16.99
Leonardo da Vinci Chianti Classico $24.99
Leonardo da Vinci Chianti Riserva $25.99
Leonardo da Vinci Chianti $11.49
2005 Luce della Vite Luce $79.99
Luce della Vite Lucente $28.99
Mantellassi Morellino di Scansano Le Sentenille Reserva $24.99
Mantellassi Morellino di Scansano Poggio Etrusco $17.99
Mantellassi Morellino di Scansano $12.99
Mantellassi Sangiovese Il Cannetto $9.99
Marchesini Chianti $9.99
Melini Chianti Borghi D'Elsa $8.49
Melini Chianti Classico Isassi $15.99
Monte Antico Rosso $11.99
Montebelli Fabula $12.99
Montemaggio Chianti Classico Riserva $26.99
Montemaggio Chianti Classico $19.99
Nando Chianti Classico $16.99
Per Me Sola Rosso Toscana $7.99
Piazzini Chianti Classico $16.99
Piazzini Chianti Torrato $8.99
Piazzini Poggio San Pietro Rosso $7.99
Pietro Chianti Bacchus $11.99
Pietro Chianti $9.99
Placido Chianti $9.99
Poggio alla Sala Chianti Senesi $12.99
Poggio alla Sala Rosso di Montepulciano $17.99
Poggio alla Sala Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva $29.99
Poggio alla Sala Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $23.99
Querceto L'Aura Chianti Classico $14.99
Redi Rosso di Montepulciano $17.99
Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico Fizzano Riserva $23.99
Ruffino Chianti Classico Aziano $12.99
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro $34.99
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale $19.99
Ruffino Toscana Fonte al Sole $10.99
S. Orsola Chianti $9.99
2004 San Lorenzo Brunello di Montalcino $45.99
Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva $25.99
Tenuta Trecciano Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva $14.99
Tenuta Trecciano Chianti Colli Senesi $11.99
Tenuta Trecciano Daniello Rosso Toscana $24.99
2004 Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino $49.99
Tiziano Chianti Classico Riserva $14.79
Tommasi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico $62.99
Torre Spina Chianti $11.99
Toscolo Chianti $10.99
Umberto Cesari Sangiovese Riserva $17.99
2001 Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino $49.99
2003 Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino $29.99
2004 Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino $39.99
Vasco Sassetti Il Ginepro Toscana $11.99
Vasco Sassetti Rosso di Montalcino $17.99
Vecchia Cantina Chianti $7.99
Vecchia Cantina Rosso di Montepulciano $11.99
Vecchia Cantina Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $14.99

Greg
There are one or two non-Tuscans in there, ironically perhaps the ones that jumped out most to me in interest/qpr terms, namely:
- Taurino Salice Salentino from Puglia, but might make a nice contrast vs. a standard Chianti
- Umberto Cesari from Emilia-Romagna, a very under-appreciated region (mostly with good reason, but there are some very good producers including this one)
- Tommasi Amarone (though slightly iffier qpr here IMO)

I've personally had good success in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, albeit not with these producers. Dei are well-regarded from memory. I've also done well in Morellino di Scansano, which again can be real gems with food.

Carpineto Dogojolo also jumps out as typically a good value food friendly wine. Not a profound wine, but one that might well beat price expectations.

best of luck tasting the ones you choose and hopefully you'll get a few reccos from others, especially on the Chianti/Rosso di M'cino and M'pulciano.

regards

Ian

Greg,

Of the handful of wines on your list that I have tasted, I have found the Mantellassi Morellino di Scansano Poggio Etrusco to we quite good. I don't tasting notes handy, but I know the I found the $15 to $18 price to be very reasonable.

Thanks Ian and Sam, I will start with the ones you recommended.

I have had some very good Chianti riservas from Rocca delle Macie, likewise for Brunello from Silvio Nardi. Not sure if the prices you quote are the best available, but if 'twas me, those would be the two wineries I'd try.

One small piece of advice- lots pf those don't have vintages listed. I'd personally avoid 2002 or 2003 - for different reasons they are basically non-typical vintages. Both probably have some good wines, but the chaff percentage is higher in those vintages than in 01, 04, 05, 06, 07

The Toscola I have found to be a nice "benchmark Chianti". It is a very nice everyday wine that is representative of Sangiovese. From there you can venture upwards and outwards. The Nipizzano Rufino Reserva is a good benchmark for the higher end. Rufino is another district, like Classico, and Chianti is the overlying region. Scansano, Montpulciano, and Brunello are outlying regions with their own guidelines for vinifying Sangiovese. Outside those regions they still produce some credible Sangiovese. The Farnese Sangiovese is a good example of quality wine outside of the Chianti region of production. The distinction now between Chianti and the "super-Tuscans" has been clouded by the fact that most IGT's could now be classified as Chianti (assuming they are grown within Chianti) due to the fact that they now allow non-traditional grapes in the blend, and 100% Sangiovese is also allowed. Regardless, you are exploring one of the great wine producing regions on earth. Where on earth do you live that you have access to so many different wines? And please report back as to your finding and likings.

Thanks all for the additional suggestions. I will rely on them as I shop.