Volpaia IGT Balifico 2016

Tuscany is one of the very few places in the wine world where old school is actually not best. It’s so different from France; in Burgundy, the vines in Vosne-Romanee have long been priceless. But in Tuscany, grapes were grown along side corn and wheat just one generation ago. It’s one of the few place in the wine world where the young vines are better than the old.

The Super-Tuscan is a fairly new idea, introducing the international variety Cabernet to the traditional Tuscan grape, Sangiovese.

Tignanello, the very first one, is the benchmark; it’s been pulling down big scores and prices since its inception. The 2016 averages around $130, for sure, a Saturday nighter. It’s easy to source Tignanello, they make an ocean of it. Sourcing other Super-Tuscans that rival Tig for half the price? Definitely harder.

One of my go-tos is Volpaia’s Balifico. Certified-organic, the 2016 Balifico is a 65-35 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet, deep and dark with a complex nose. In the mouth, the wine is big and juicy, with layers of fruit and it finishes quite long. It’s the perfect wine for a juicy Kahuna burger! But unlike Tig, it’s a very limited lot of wine, don’t let it disappear!