Masterworks Series Leonardo da Vinci 2016 Sangiovese - Cabernet Tuscana Italia

Varietal: Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon Region: Tuscany, Italy Alcohol by Volume: 13% MSRP: $40

Winemaking is an art. With so many decisions to be made, from selecting grapes at the vineyard to bottling the juice months later at the winery, making wine ends up being an act of expression that says as much about a culture as any art form. To explore this parallel, we’ve brought in some of the world’s foremost experts on winemaking to create masterful wines inspired by history's most famous painters.

Since 1938 the Barbanera family has helped develop the taste and style of Tuscan wines in the modern era. We're extremely excited to introduce them to American wine lovers with this award-winning wine inspired by the legendary Italian painter, Leonardo Da Vinci. Like the painter, this small-batch Sangiovese-Cabernet is a fusion of science and art combining meticulous attention to detail with a finely-tuned sensibility to the art of winemaking. Rich, vibrant and fruitful, this wine has a long lingering finish that will leave you wanting more.

And the judges agree: this wine won a gold medal and 94-point score at the 2017 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition!

WINEMAKER

Beginning at the vineyards, the Barbenera family is known for their meticulous attention to detail. All the vineyard operations - from winter pruning, to bunch-thinning in summer— are carried out by expert, local hands. This is done so that the family can maintain precise control over the quality of the fruit and ensure that their harvests are the best in the region. This dedication to quality is carried on in the family's winemaking practices; choosing to create small batch wines to ensure that every bottle of wine produced under their family name is worthy of that distinction.

TASTING NOTES

Intensely ruby-red in color this extremely flavorful wine is characterized by it's boldness. On the nose black cherries and warm baking spices are immediately present. On the palate rich, soft tannins deliver persistent ripe plum, black-fruit flavors and subtle hints of smoke. The lingering finish will have you yearning for yet another sip.