Anteprima Toscana 2020 - Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Let me start off here by saying I like Vernaccia di San Gimignano, really I do. And if asked I would even volunteer that I have a preferred style: crisp, energetic, and mineral laced. I would hope that I can identify the wines I like, with some consistency, and yet when I look at the list of my favorite vines tasted during this year’s Anteprima Toscana Vernaccia edition I am struck by how different the list is from last year’s.
Only a few producers made the highly recommended list in both years chief among them: Montenidoli, Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara, and Fontaleoni.
If you have the time I'd go ahead and take a look at last year’s report as well as it has a pretty well put together introduction if I do say so myself.
Some producers had a number of fabulous wines this year, Casale Falchini, Guicciardini Strozzi, La Lasta, Montenidoli, and San Donato all had a pair of wines on my highly recommended list. There are producers that had made the list last year who failed to break into the top list this year. In all honesty I’m not sure if that’s because of a change in quality or character from vintage to vintage, or if it’s due to the nature of these tastings.
70 plus wines, one after the other, can result in some unusual results and once again there are so many variables at play, did I get the first pour or the last pour from that bottle? What is the temperature difference between those two pours?
I can say that I try to compensate for these variations, but the truth is I really can only judge what is in my glass, and I do that as honestly and directly as I can. If some inconsistency occurs so be it. What I would look for instead are the constants, those wines that make the highly recommended list vintage after vintage. That Is the short list I construct and keep handy for helping to select a Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
A final note simply on the breakdown of vintages. 2019 looks to be another successful vintage in San Gimignano. I found good fruit and balance here, though some wines did have a degree of excessive ripeness for my palate.
93
2019 Casale Falchini Vigna a Solatio Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very fresh and enticing nose with a fine blend of apple and citrus fruits, cut grasses and floral aromas. Rich but fresh, with god stuffing, offering fine depth on the palate with complicated flavors that are nuanced, fresh and definitely fruit driven, good length, subtle, sandy and with finely detailed fruit 93pts
2017 Guicciardini Strozzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Wow this is floral and citrus scented with a strong tea character, all Earl Grey, just a huge Bergamot note. Supple and broad in the mouth, though not without a certain tension across the palate. Good depth of flavors, lots of bergamot to be found here as well, rich and generous in the mouth, Nice length and detail to the surprisingly juicy finish. I prefer the Titoalato Strozzi but this might be the better wine. Wow is this resonant on the finish. 93pts
2019 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara Selvabianca Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Reticent with nuanced apple, lime, jasmine, anf seashell aromas, classical. Zesty and hightoned on entry, a touch loose perhaps across the palate though this delivers classica array of flavors. With a nice suggestion of bitterness on the backend end of the palate and plenty of dusty chalky earth through the moderately long finish. Archetypal Vernaccia. A bit unforgiving and that is terrific. Long and zesty. 92pts
2016 Montenidoli Carato Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Earthy, waxy and quite floral on the nose, slightly vegetal notes lurk in the background mostly obscured by chalky and lemon aromas. Elegant and fine in the mouth, a subtle and supple wine, drifts across the palate with nuanced slightly herbal orange and chamomile toned flavors leading to a very juicy and moderately long green apple finish. Very refined and complex, a sophisticated wine. With a gorgeous peacock’s tail finish, so juicy and fresh. 93pts
2019 Poderi Arcangelo Primo Angelo Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lightly aromatic with mineral water, And slight waxy honeycomb accents to the candied apple and lemon fruits. Fresh with an appealing and entirely appropriate roudness on entry which is followed by layered and nuanced flavors of river stone, slightly salty, detailed and crystal clear, apple and heathery fruit. Lovely stuff, graceful and nuanced with a fruit profiel that lacks any excess and finishes with length , detail, minerality and the slightest hint of polyphenolic bitterness on the finale. Great. Gorgeous stuff. 93pts
92
2015 Casa Lucil Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells oddly like ragu, rather complex if different, with a fine riverstone base, Elegant, refined, silky, nuanced wines with tense detailed citrus and pear flavors, very refined, good length, taut and mineraly through the long finish, if subtle 92pts
2018 Casale Falchini Vigna a Solatio Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch furry on the nose and even a bit gamy, with a flinty top note, and some polleny floral notes, complex if not fruit driven. Broad and moderately rich on the palate, rather imposing on the palate while delivering lots of mineral and faint dried fruit character, very zesty, slightly powdery and tannic finish. A bit Chablis like, with good length. This should evolve quite well, though it is powerful. 92pts
2019 La Lastra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch flinty and somewhat seashore-like, reminds me of oysters, with a jellied lime top note. Clean, rather precise and direct in the mouth which shows a faint saline streak and flavors of jellied quince and lime Just a bit tight and stern in the mouth with a hint of bitterness on the long finish. Serious and slightly aggressive stuff. Stern, I just got bitch slapped, but I liked it. 92pts
91
2019 Casa alle Vacche I Macchioni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Fairly floral on the nose, Quite fragrant with seashell and cashew aromas. A nice density on the palate, with fine depth of flavors, a more sophisticated take with fairly complex if nuanced flavors of ripe apple, green fruits, dried flowers and some lovely flecks of minerality. This lingers delicately on the palate. Fine length, A really nice effort 91pts
2019 Poggio Alloro Il Nicchiario Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Nuanced on the nose with green apple fruit, chalky soil tones and spicy floral notes with a background note of tobacco. Firm, well balanced, with goof cut and energy on the palate, a bit too fruity perhaps at this point but this carries plenty of well integrated structure with it. Clean finish is a bit short. Fairly complex and quite drinkable. This grows on you. 91pts
2019 Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit quincy and with some bitter orange, lemon marmalade undertones, this smells fresh yet rich. Fairly large scaled in the mouth, easy going, upright on the hepalate with good clarity to the stone inflected fruit flavors. Clean and somewhat zesty on the longish finish. There's a lot to like here and this might even be better with another year or two in the bottle. Lots of powdery soil tones underpinning the lovely fruit. There's attractive subtlety here 91pts
2019 Guicciardini Strozzi Titolato Strozzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smelling a bit figgy, with some slate undertones and a nice wash of green tea lurking over it all. Firm in the mouth, slightly small scaled but with rather deep and assertive flavors. Firm and a touch rugged if not very long, still this exhibits a certain delicacy in spite of its near austerity. Piercing and palate cleansing. A very valid expression. 91pts
2018 La Lastra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smoky, floral, slightly Animale framed citrus aromas on the nose. Lots of lemon verbena Clean, rather direct in the mouth and slightly more generous than the 2019. This is rather complete, nuanced, complex, with decent length, and a refined character to it, though it is not loose, it's rather taciturn in nature. Very good and sophisticated but not in the people pleasing business. Lacks just a little length. 91pts
2018 Montenidoli Tradizione Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very complex and natural smelling with layered aromas of ginseng, dried flowers, underbrush, clay soil and quincy fruit. Shows a similar level of complexity in the mouth, which is slightly silky and finely textured, refined, again it’s natural feeling. A touch earthy at first, then turning floral and nuanced on the long, almost lush finish. Lovely green floral finish. Slightly oxidative in style. Atypical today but classic. 91pts
2018 San Donato Angelica Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Oaky though not terribly spicy on the nose, but heavy, honied and waxy if quie polleny floral. Opens with nice snap and good acidity, this is road and rich in the mouth, really quite powerful and nutty. Not my style but I can see the appeal. It’s fairly complex as well with a bit of a tannic bite on the generous finish. Oh I don’t like this but it is really quite good. 91pts
2017 San Donato Benedetta Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Intensely fragrant, and quite complex Masculine and assertive on the nose, with aromas of dried apple fruit, seaweed, dried flowers and a hint of vannalin. Rich and powerful in the mouth, though very well balanced. This lacks the overtly aggressive character of many of these wines though it retains a firm, mineral spice while featuring uncommonly rich and deep fruit. I’m not sure how I feel about this and can see it might get a bit too much while drinking it but this is impressive. Deep, honied fruit graces the finish before this turns crisp and dusty. The biggest wines of the tasting. 91pts
90
2019 Cappella Sant'Andrea Clara Stelle Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit of SO2, rather intense, a bit more peachy than apple scented, quite ripe, A touch loose, nice mineral base, elegant, refined, not terribly fruity with some almond notes, but there's a nice base of subtle fruit here. Good length, refined and polished with a suggestion of tannin lengthening the finish. Very pleasant 90pts
2017 Casale Falchini Ab Vinea Doni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Seashell, lime zest, almost and integrated oak spice come together on the nose. A touch diffuse but this manages it well with a fine blend of richness, minerality and subtlety to the ripe orchard and citrus fruit flavors. Moderately powerful but graceful and silky, a touch woody perhaps on the finish, which is a touch short. Still a fine effort. 90pts
2019 Fattoria di Fugnano e Bombereto Da Fugnano Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very floral and vaguely vegetal, with sandy soil tones and a hint of salinity. Moderately large scaled, almost a bit chewy and a bit frooti in the mouth, Theres fine underlying tension and gentle minerality but this is a bit too glycerine rich and fruity at the moment though the finish shows great definition, juicy acidity and almost beach like sandy and dried herb notes. Needs to resolve itself a bit but has potential. 90pts
2017 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara L’Albereta Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch dull on the nose, floral with aromas of steeped green tea and bruised orchard fruits, a touch of old wood lurks in the background. Rich, plump but not weighty with a fine core of citrussy fruit accented with hints of green pith and a touch of lemon verbena. This is lovely with juicy acidity and real lift through the finish. It’s not the most complex example and is even a touch too subtle at times, though it refreshes the paalte terrifically and presents such a refined, fresh palate with lemon oil and butcher wax notes on the finale. 90pts
2019 Signano Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Delicae and nuanced with gentle floral notes laid over a dusty mineral base. Direct on the palate, well focused and fresh with mineral water notes early on the palate followed by nuanced lemon and lime puth flavors, a touch of pollen and a rather supple, long, dusty finish. Elegant and refined this achieves an uncommon sense of delicacy for Vernaccia with a long, caressing finish. 90pts
2019 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very stony on the nose, a touch of eggshell adds some detail with ripe apple and grapefruit notes lurking in the background. Almost delicate in the mouth with fairly mature fruit flavors showing a touch of bruised apple and a suggestion of sweetness but this retains its firm dusty character on the palate. A nice blend of gentle chewiness and firm taut structure. This feels too young and should improve in the bottle. Lovely vinosity and nerve. Finishes just a touch short but lovely. 90pts
89
2019 Agricoltori del Chianti Geografico Borgo alla Terre Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very fragrant, delicate yellow apple and apple blossom aromas. Zesty, good acids, a nice base note of chalk, a touch of bitter apple on the palate, good length, a bit simple but very zesty. 89pts
2019 Fattoria Poggio Alloro Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Ripe apples on the nose show a little sweetness but it's nicely balanced by hints of bay leaf, tomato, and almond. Crisp, a touch richer than expected by quite classic, with lovely nuanced flavors that turn a bit peachy in the mouth yet retin good transparency and verve. Clean modest finish. 89pts
2018 Tenuta La Vigna Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Floral and sweetly citrusy on the nose with a touch of jasmine adding an exotic note. Bright, firm, clear if quite ripe on the paate. Tense and nervous in the mouth with lots of juicy citrus flavors and a hint of fennel seed lending a twist. Nervous and fairly powerful this is impressive but perhaps could be a touch more delicate. 89pts
2017 Tenute Le Calcinaie Vigna al Sassi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit oaky, woodsy on the nose, fairly complex with bitter apple, leafy, and sandy aromas. Pleasantly soft and approachable in the mouth. A nuanced style with admirable complexity on the palate and an intelligent use of oak which has softened the wine, supplied a gentle wood underlay and suggestion of sweetness but has not obscured the raw materials. Supple, complex, and with decent length. 89pts
88
2019 Collemucioli Madre Terra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Reticent though with attractive white floral, fresh apple and chalky stone aromas. Small scaled, easy going, fresh and crisp, though not without a certain softness. Not a big wine at all but well balanced, fairly elegant and typical. 88pts
2018 Fattoria di Fugnano e Bombereto Dona Gina Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Deep and complex, there's really a lot going on here with lovely ripe fruit, dried herbs, and salty yellow plum notes, A touch loosely knit on the palate, though elegant and supple with a lovely hint of evolution lending this complexity and suppleness, finishes a bit short, but with a hint of salinity and nice river stone minerality fading into the background. 88pts
2019 Macinato - Massi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Fine and intense aromas of citrus fruits, fresh green herbs and sandy soil tones. A touch loose in the mouth, though this is fairly intense and shows nice lift in the mouth. A bit tight on the backend and through the Juicy, nervous finish. Lacks some flavor intensity but shows fine structure. 88pts
2019 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Rather stony on the nose with lovely lilac, lemon pith, passionfruity, and jellied lemon perfumes. Clean and direct in the mouth, a touch simple and subtle but with lovely flavors of lemon and flowers. Decent follow through on the palate, Simple one two step on the palate but this is rugged, dusty and faceted on the finish. Could use a touch more depth to the flavors but this feels terrific and finishes well 88pts
2018 Pietrafitta Il Borghetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very clear and transparent on the nose with nuanced mineral water polleny flower, saffron, and slightly salty lemon aromas. Very direct and linear in the mouth, unfettered, lacking a bit of depth perhaps but delivering nuanced floral framed almost peachy sweet pear fruit flavors. Modest finish Delicae, easy going if not without a degree of sophistication. 88pts
2019 Poderi Arcangelo Terra del Lago Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells waxy and peachy and moderately ripe. A more rounded and generous interpretation without the detail and sheer excitement of the Primo Angelo, but this is lovely in its own right. Riper and slightly fruitier, with fine dusty depth and some earthy and floral top notes on the palate. Light, not at all easy going but a fruity style that shows a hint of oxidative process and is less exciting. 88pts
2019 Signano Poggiarelli Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very light and delicate on the nose, a meadow after the rain. A whisper of a wine, quite pleasant but so light, and elegant and fresh. A like this but it lacks some depth and naucne though it is probably the most drinkable wine of the tasting. Clean, pure, and precise. So refined. 88pts
2018 Tenuta Montagnani Frammenti Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite earthy and clay tinged on the nose. Shows some ripe fruit, almost blue tinged and plummy flavor over an assertive mineral base. Supple and fairly full in the mouth. Crafted like a Chardonnay drinker’s Vernaccia. There's a lot of richness here lending suppleness and fruit is rather ripe though stil all apple and pear toned with a pleasant mineral and dried floral undertone. Actually quite attractive on the finish. A little too easy for me but I see where this fits in the marketplace. 88pts
87
2017 Cappella Sant'Andrea Prima Luce Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Woody, intense but rather obscured by oak. The oak is better integrated in the mouth where this shows nice soil and slightly dried fruit flavors, but it's a bit rough going. Though long with dried citrus, plenty of acid and a hint of wood tannin. 87pts
2018 Collemucioli Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Slightly spicy and vaguely vegetal, green apple fruit on the nose. A bit flinty. Lean, linear, a touch soft in the mouth, but pleasant with a firm, stony core. Racy, fresh, easy to drink but not facile. 87pts
2019 Collina dei Venti Libera Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite floral, but also vaguely meaty with a medicinal undertone, perhaps a suggestion of green tomato. A bit loose, though fresh, well balanced, and with a very pleasant if easy going mouthfeel, clean, fresh, brisk finish. 87pts
2017 Fontaleoni Casanuova Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch oaky, inoffensive but present and framing the core of rather sweet smelling candied apple fruit. A crowd pleasing style that combines suppleness, a touch of cremainess, finely rendered fruit and a nice if modestly long stony finale. It's understated and a touch pedestrian but many people will enjoy this. 87pts
2018 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara Campo delle Pieve Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Heathery on the nose and a touch animale though with attractively saline minerality and dried floral aromas. Lacking a bit of focus in the mouth, though pleasant and almost easy going with modest length and pleasant minerality. This is firm, if a bit subtle. With modest length. 87pts
2019 Lebbio Tropie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very perfumed, lots of baby powder on the nose, then turning lightly rose scented and vaguely guava scented. Fluid in the mouth, light, fresh, good detail but not terribly complex. It is attractively dusty and floral in the mouth, though it finishes abruptly with little follow through. Easy to drink yet with some grip. 87pts
2019 Il Palagione Hydra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit passionfruity on the nose, then a touch stony but fairly exotic and tropical. Clean, zesty and vibrant in the mouth, a bit tropical and passion fruity here as well. Simple one two punch of slightly atypical fruit but it is zesty and refreshing. 87pts
2017 Il Palagione Lyra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very subtle wood here on the nose lending some complexity and nance to the core of ripe yellow apple, lilac and gravel aromas. Soft, rather caressing in the mouth, decent depth with more bruised apple flavors. Nice cut on the modest finish. Shows some nuanced evolution on the palate finishing with a touch of old wood. 87pts
2018 Montenidoli Fiore Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Earthy, complex natural wine smell. Slightly braised vegetal and herbal cast to the aromatics with a gentle smoky top not. A bit compact in the mouth, a tight kernel of fruit crosses the palate though here the slightly oxidative style is a touch distracting. Fresh, with good cut, modest length, but a zesty and slightly tannic finale. A touch of polyphenolic bitreness. Fascinating but a touch to subtle. 87pts
2017 Pietrafitta La Costa Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Deep and waxy on the nose with some old wood framing notes supporting a core of almost red fruits, hinting at cranberry and cherry. Very complex and nuanced if unique. Polished, supple and rich wine though not weighty. Almost plush with a very generous feel. Though it lacks some detail and depth. A somewhat opulent wine that feels good, with good freshness but lacks details. 87pts
2019 Podere Le Volute Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Citrus, sage, and cut grass come together on the very fresh nose. Gains some floral top notes, this smells terrific and inviting in a very fresh and fruity style. Linear, a touch rounder and more glycerine rich thathan I would have guessed from the nose Nice but not as fresh as the nose promised with a palate that is a touch heavy finishing with a slightl sense of dullness. Chewy and slightly clumsy. It’s powerful, with good minerality but lacks some detail on the palate. 87pts
2019 Podere del Paradiso Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very floral and quite herbal on the nose, almost medicinal with grassy and green fennel notes. Linear, with an attractive sheen of padding on the palate that helps buffer the moderately firm structure here. Pleasant with good nuance on the palate, juicy acidity and fresh floral and citrus flavors. A bit commercial in feel though. 87pts
2019 Tenuta le Vigna Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Intense, a bit limestony on the nose with a dab of orangy citrus character and fine, nuanced floral notes. Broad and firm in the mouth, slightly spicy with a steely backbone. Firm, racy and a bit lean with decent length though this does lack some depth and complexity it’s certainly an assertive style. 87pts
86
2017 Casa alle Vacche Crocus Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite ripe, hints of kumquat, white flowers, and chalk, with a fine woody backing note, A touch loose in the mouth, and a touch chewy, but rich and plump, finish is short, clean but simple. 86pts
2019 Castello Montauto - Famiglia Cecchi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Cider apples, apple peels and a fine almond note come together on the nose. A bit low on the palate, and lacking some life. Moderately rich, with fine flavors of slightly frooti fruit, decent length though not much complexity. 86pts
2016 Collina dei Venti Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Old oak, bit dirty, slightly minty though dank. Fresh and simple with that oak influence tempered by pleasantly ripe orchard fruits. Don’t keep this any longer though. It does offer admirable complexity and length on the rather long finish. 86pts
2019 Fattorie Melini Le Grillaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Reticent on the nose though pleasant aromas of gauze, pear fruit,and a touch of wild grassiness does emerge with time. Soft, easy going style, with decent pear fruit, and some attractive grassy detail emerge on the palate. There's some nice covering flesh here making this supple and easy to drink with a modest finish. 86pts
2019 Lebbio Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lots of sage graces the nose with sandy soil tones, asaline streak and an incipient petrol note. A touch diffuse in the mouth with lots of pear fruit, a touch frooti, slightly sweet flavors, though most likely totally dry. Decent length but simple. 86pts
2018 Panizzi Vigna Santa Margherita Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch woodsy on the nose lending notable complexity but this smells a bit compressed and simple because of it. Soft in the mouth, supple, with some tannin early on the palate, a bit lean, again it is firm on the finish but there’s not a lot of covering material here. A bit chewy, Can’t call this rustic, but it is ungenerous and stern. 86pts
2019 Pietrafitta Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells like ass, takes a bit to get rid of the sulphur, though a suggestion remains, what emerges is rather fragrant if delicate orange pith and orange blossom aroma. Fresh, juicy, easy going if a bit orange in the mouth where the sulfur continues to obscure further detail. Clean modest finish. Brisk, small scaled wine. 86pts
2019 Teruzzi Isola Bianco Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lemon zesty and beautifully, piercingly floral on the nose. A bit gentle early in the mouth, this is quite zesty and a little dusty in the mouth, Show some pear skin character in the mouth. Simple but pleasant with nice aromaticity to the fruit in the mouth. 86pts
85
2019 Casa Lucil Mareterra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit stink, and grassy on the nose, with lots or oregano, chalk and again rather meaty aromas, A touch diffuse in the mouth, pleasantly if slightly too ripe with slightly tired, over ripe orchard fruit flavors that finish with a finely assertive mineral note of good length, but you have to like those very ripe fruit flavors 85pts
2017 San Benedetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smoky oak joins dried herb, soil, and dried apricot aromas on the nose. Lithe in the mouth, feathery almost with good energy and an almost diffuse but rather elegant palate impression. Not very intense but delicate and lacy with a fairly tannic finish for such a lacy wine. Dries out the finish. 85pts
2019 San Donato Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Hints of bruised orange and prosciutto grace the sandy, white floral nose. Pleasant in the mouth with a gentle wash of tannins on the palate. Lacks some depth, and is a bit short but its pleasant and easy to drink with some dusty minerality on the finish. 85pts
84
2017 Alessandro Tofanari Astrea Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit meaty, reticent, driven by earth with some seashell accents, Broad, a touch loose in the mouth, pleasant if relaxed and not very fruity in style. A touch low on the finish. Subtle, easy to drink but uncomplicated. 84pts
2019 Casa alle Vacche Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite rite fruity on the nose, a little frooti, tutti frutti, Diffuse in the mouth, small, a ball of fruit, apple and peach, finishes quickly with a hint of mineralty, almost steely, 84pts
2019 Fattorie Melini Conti Serristori Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells mostly stony with hints of ragu, celery, and green pear fruit. Very direct on the palate, a bit lean but fresh with decent drive, lacks much of a finish but is easy drinking if a bit innocuous. 84pts
2017 Il Palagione Lei Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Intensely ripe, slightly oxidized, and raher cedary on the nose, a bit too much oxidation. Fresh and fluid in the mouth, nutty, some pachy character, modest complexity and intensity. A bit tired flavor profile. Almost no finish. 84pts
2018 Il Palagione Ori Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Rather indistinct on the nose, a hint of cider apples and some chalky, blue floral tones. A nice almost sweet leading edge here, followed by earthy flavors that are subtle and simple with a stony, moderately long zesty finish. Pleasant if simple. 84pts
2019 Mormoraia Suavis Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Deep, pithy citrussy aromatics also show a touch of passionfruit and green herbs. A touch diffuse in the mouth, simple and easy going on the palate. Modest finish, minimal complexity. This is at least juicy with some polleny notes on the finale. 84pts
2018 Mormoraia Ostrea Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very floral, iris and pyrithion scented with orange marmalade and passionfruit notes. A bit loose in the mouth, pleasant but lacking some tension Finishes abruptly with some citrusy fruit and a dry, austere finally. Just not enough here. There's some nice perfumed citrus fruit on the palate but it's subtle. A bit chewy. 84pts
2016 Tollena Signorina Vittoria Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Oaky and just woody on the nose, a bit sandalwoody and exotic in that sense. Not objectionable in the mouth, smooth, supple, yet bright enough with vague minerality and some waxy apple fruit on the palate, but fairly minor wine with a noticeable dose of wood tannin on the modest finish. 84pts
83
2019 Cantina Guida Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Gently floral and dusty on the nose. A bit diffuse in the mouth, lacks some detail, easy to drink but soft and not well defined 83pts
2018 Cappella Sant'Andrea Rialto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Again rather peachy, even apricoty, with complicating notes of slate and citrus zest. A bit diffuse, not much to this. 83pts
2017 Cesani Sanice Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Cigar box, dried blond tobacco, and smoky grilled meats on the nose. A bit loose, lacks a center, decent flavors with a certain glycerine sweetness to the wine punctuated by fine dusty mineral tones with a brief finish. 83pts
2018 Macinato - Massi Massi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite ripe and apricotty on the nose, A bit odd and atypical, just too honied and jammy. Soft in the mouth, loose and indistinct with pleasant flavors of honied fruit, peachy, and supported by subtle oak tones. Clean and finishing with decent acids but a pall of oak lurks over the over-ripe fruit. Clumsy. 83pts
2018 San Benedetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit grapey on the nose, some fruit jelly notes, certainly ripe but with a broad array of fruity aromas. A touch heavy and figgy on entry. All the fruit of the nose appears on the palate, making this a bit heavy and dull with a short finish. No shortage of acidity so at least this refreshes the palate but the flavors are heavy and slightly honied. 83pts
2019 San Quirico Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit of caramel greets the nose followed by aromas of bruised fruit, soda water, and roasted nuts. Loose and indistinct on the palate, this shows over ripe flavors on the palate as well with an oxidative cast. A bit dull and short as well. 83pts
82
2018 Poggio Alloro Le Mandorle Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells a bit oaky layered over wildflower and fairly tropical fruit. Soft on entry, broad, lacks some liveliness in the mouth, Dull, a bit heavy, and short. 82pts
2018 Tenuta Montagnani Assola Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Showing candied violet notes early on the palate, this smells strongly of church incense and candle wax. Soft and a touch loose in the mouth, this is easy going and a touch dilute with a very modest finish. Not much here. 82pts
81
2018 Cesani Clamys Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Stone, sweet apricot jam and putty on the nose with a touch of something vaguely sour and meaty. Moderately rich, smooth, easy drinking if lacking a bit of intensity. Foursquare with an oddly tannic finish. 81pts
80
2018 Fornacelle Fiora Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lumber yard, smoky, torrefaction, quince paste, Light and fresh in the mouth, though the wood influence is quite pronounced, short, not for me. 80
2019 Tollena Lunario Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Stinky, a bit oxidative, very nutty and gamy. Light and surprisingly fresh in the mouth though there is that oxidative, nuttiness lurking in the background and a gaminess to the palate. Almost a touch of truffle to the honeyed, over-ripe citrus flavors. A bit tough going in the mouth. I just don’t like this flavor profile. 80pts
Not recommended
2016 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite oaky, there's some citruss character lurking but this is a bit of an oak bomb. Rather fresh in the mouth, there's pleasant apricot fruit here but this carries an important if not totally dominant load of oak. There's plenty of wood tannin here as well. It does retain good fruit, but the sweet and spicy oak is just too dominant for this to be enjoyable. Yuck. 77pts
2017 Teruzzi Sant’Elena Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very subdued, mineral water and a suggestion of mustiness. A little sweet and loose in the mouth with lots of pear and apricot fruit. Dull, a bit chewy, lifeless and short. 77pts
2019 Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Green on the nose, very distinct pickle juice, like pure pickle juice, Fresh, modest scale, very vague flavors of pickle juice, dill, and bitter apple on the palate with a thankfully brief finish. 76pts
2017 San Quirico Isabella Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Some freshly sawn lumber greets the nose, a bi resiny and green followed by some citrusy and floral aromas. A bit neutral in the mouth, pleasantly sculpted but the resiny wood arrives late on the palate obscuring any further detail. Oh this is really not for me. 76pts
Only a few producers made the highly recommended list in both years chief among them: Montenidoli, Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara, and Fontaleoni.
If you have the time I'd go ahead and take a look at last year’s report as well as it has a pretty well put together introduction if I do say so myself.
Some producers had a number of fabulous wines this year, Casale Falchini, Guicciardini Strozzi, La Lasta, Montenidoli, and San Donato all had a pair of wines on my highly recommended list. There are producers that had made the list last year who failed to break into the top list this year. In all honesty I’m not sure if that’s because of a change in quality or character from vintage to vintage, or if it’s due to the nature of these tastings.
70 plus wines, one after the other, can result in some unusual results and once again there are so many variables at play, did I get the first pour or the last pour from that bottle? What is the temperature difference between those two pours?
I can say that I try to compensate for these variations, but the truth is I really can only judge what is in my glass, and I do that as honestly and directly as I can. If some inconsistency occurs so be it. What I would look for instead are the constants, those wines that make the highly recommended list vintage after vintage. That Is the short list I construct and keep handy for helping to select a Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
A final note simply on the breakdown of vintages. 2019 looks to be another successful vintage in San Gimignano. I found good fruit and balance here, though some wines did have a degree of excessive ripeness for my palate.
93
2019 Casale Falchini Vigna a Solatio Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very fresh and enticing nose with a fine blend of apple and citrus fruits, cut grasses and floral aromas. Rich but fresh, with god stuffing, offering fine depth on the palate with complicated flavors that are nuanced, fresh and definitely fruit driven, good length, subtle, sandy and with finely detailed fruit 93pts
2017 Guicciardini Strozzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Wow this is floral and citrus scented with a strong tea character, all Earl Grey, just a huge Bergamot note. Supple and broad in the mouth, though not without a certain tension across the palate. Good depth of flavors, lots of bergamot to be found here as well, rich and generous in the mouth, Nice length and detail to the surprisingly juicy finish. I prefer the Titoalato Strozzi but this might be the better wine. Wow is this resonant on the finish. 93pts
2019 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara Selvabianca Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Reticent with nuanced apple, lime, jasmine, anf seashell aromas, classical. Zesty and hightoned on entry, a touch loose perhaps across the palate though this delivers classica array of flavors. With a nice suggestion of bitterness on the backend end of the palate and plenty of dusty chalky earth through the moderately long finish. Archetypal Vernaccia. A bit unforgiving and that is terrific. Long and zesty. 92pts
2016 Montenidoli Carato Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Earthy, waxy and quite floral on the nose, slightly vegetal notes lurk in the background mostly obscured by chalky and lemon aromas. Elegant and fine in the mouth, a subtle and supple wine, drifts across the palate with nuanced slightly herbal orange and chamomile toned flavors leading to a very juicy and moderately long green apple finish. Very refined and complex, a sophisticated wine. With a gorgeous peacock’s tail finish, so juicy and fresh. 93pts
2019 Poderi Arcangelo Primo Angelo Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lightly aromatic with mineral water, And slight waxy honeycomb accents to the candied apple and lemon fruits. Fresh with an appealing and entirely appropriate roudness on entry which is followed by layered and nuanced flavors of river stone, slightly salty, detailed and crystal clear, apple and heathery fruit. Lovely stuff, graceful and nuanced with a fruit profiel that lacks any excess and finishes with length , detail, minerality and the slightest hint of polyphenolic bitterness on the finale. Great. Gorgeous stuff. 93pts
92
2015 Casa Lucil Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells oddly like ragu, rather complex if different, with a fine riverstone base, Elegant, refined, silky, nuanced wines with tense detailed citrus and pear flavors, very refined, good length, taut and mineraly through the long finish, if subtle 92pts
2018 Casale Falchini Vigna a Solatio Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch furry on the nose and even a bit gamy, with a flinty top note, and some polleny floral notes, complex if not fruit driven. Broad and moderately rich on the palate, rather imposing on the palate while delivering lots of mineral and faint dried fruit character, very zesty, slightly powdery and tannic finish. A bit Chablis like, with good length. This should evolve quite well, though it is powerful. 92pts
2019 La Lastra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch flinty and somewhat seashore-like, reminds me of oysters, with a jellied lime top note. Clean, rather precise and direct in the mouth which shows a faint saline streak and flavors of jellied quince and lime Just a bit tight and stern in the mouth with a hint of bitterness on the long finish. Serious and slightly aggressive stuff. Stern, I just got bitch slapped, but I liked it. 92pts
91
2019 Casa alle Vacche I Macchioni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Fairly floral on the nose, Quite fragrant with seashell and cashew aromas. A nice density on the palate, with fine depth of flavors, a more sophisticated take with fairly complex if nuanced flavors of ripe apple, green fruits, dried flowers and some lovely flecks of minerality. This lingers delicately on the palate. Fine length, A really nice effort 91pts
2019 Poggio Alloro Il Nicchiario Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Nuanced on the nose with green apple fruit, chalky soil tones and spicy floral notes with a background note of tobacco. Firm, well balanced, with goof cut and energy on the palate, a bit too fruity perhaps at this point but this carries plenty of well integrated structure with it. Clean finish is a bit short. Fairly complex and quite drinkable. This grows on you. 91pts
2019 Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit quincy and with some bitter orange, lemon marmalade undertones, this smells fresh yet rich. Fairly large scaled in the mouth, easy going, upright on the hepalate with good clarity to the stone inflected fruit flavors. Clean and somewhat zesty on the longish finish. There's a lot to like here and this might even be better with another year or two in the bottle. Lots of powdery soil tones underpinning the lovely fruit. There's attractive subtlety here 91pts
2019 Guicciardini Strozzi Titolato Strozzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smelling a bit figgy, with some slate undertones and a nice wash of green tea lurking over it all. Firm in the mouth, slightly small scaled but with rather deep and assertive flavors. Firm and a touch rugged if not very long, still this exhibits a certain delicacy in spite of its near austerity. Piercing and palate cleansing. A very valid expression. 91pts
2018 La Lastra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smoky, floral, slightly Animale framed citrus aromas on the nose. Lots of lemon verbena Clean, rather direct in the mouth and slightly more generous than the 2019. This is rather complete, nuanced, complex, with decent length, and a refined character to it, though it is not loose, it's rather taciturn in nature. Very good and sophisticated but not in the people pleasing business. Lacks just a little length. 91pts
2018 Montenidoli Tradizione Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very complex and natural smelling with layered aromas of ginseng, dried flowers, underbrush, clay soil and quincy fruit. Shows a similar level of complexity in the mouth, which is slightly silky and finely textured, refined, again it’s natural feeling. A touch earthy at first, then turning floral and nuanced on the long, almost lush finish. Lovely green floral finish. Slightly oxidative in style. Atypical today but classic. 91pts
2018 San Donato Angelica Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Oaky though not terribly spicy on the nose, but heavy, honied and waxy if quie polleny floral. Opens with nice snap and good acidity, this is road and rich in the mouth, really quite powerful and nutty. Not my style but I can see the appeal. It’s fairly complex as well with a bit of a tannic bite on the generous finish. Oh I don’t like this but it is really quite good. 91pts
2017 San Donato Benedetta Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Intensely fragrant, and quite complex Masculine and assertive on the nose, with aromas of dried apple fruit, seaweed, dried flowers and a hint of vannalin. Rich and powerful in the mouth, though very well balanced. This lacks the overtly aggressive character of many of these wines though it retains a firm, mineral spice while featuring uncommonly rich and deep fruit. I’m not sure how I feel about this and can see it might get a bit too much while drinking it but this is impressive. Deep, honied fruit graces the finish before this turns crisp and dusty. The biggest wines of the tasting. 91pts
90
2019 Cappella Sant'Andrea Clara Stelle Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit of SO2, rather intense, a bit more peachy than apple scented, quite ripe, A touch loose, nice mineral base, elegant, refined, not terribly fruity with some almond notes, but there's a nice base of subtle fruit here. Good length, refined and polished with a suggestion of tannin lengthening the finish. Very pleasant 90pts
2017 Casale Falchini Ab Vinea Doni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Seashell, lime zest, almost and integrated oak spice come together on the nose. A touch diffuse but this manages it well with a fine blend of richness, minerality and subtlety to the ripe orchard and citrus fruit flavors. Moderately powerful but graceful and silky, a touch woody perhaps on the finish, which is a touch short. Still a fine effort. 90pts
2019 Fattoria di Fugnano e Bombereto Da Fugnano Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very floral and vaguely vegetal, with sandy soil tones and a hint of salinity. Moderately large scaled, almost a bit chewy and a bit frooti in the mouth, Theres fine underlying tension and gentle minerality but this is a bit too glycerine rich and fruity at the moment though the finish shows great definition, juicy acidity and almost beach like sandy and dried herb notes. Needs to resolve itself a bit but has potential. 90pts
2017 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara L’Albereta Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch dull on the nose, floral with aromas of steeped green tea and bruised orchard fruits, a touch of old wood lurks in the background. Rich, plump but not weighty with a fine core of citrussy fruit accented with hints of green pith and a touch of lemon verbena. This is lovely with juicy acidity and real lift through the finish. It’s not the most complex example and is even a touch too subtle at times, though it refreshes the paalte terrifically and presents such a refined, fresh palate with lemon oil and butcher wax notes on the finale. 90pts
2019 Signano Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Delicae and nuanced with gentle floral notes laid over a dusty mineral base. Direct on the palate, well focused and fresh with mineral water notes early on the palate followed by nuanced lemon and lime puth flavors, a touch of pollen and a rather supple, long, dusty finish. Elegant and refined this achieves an uncommon sense of delicacy for Vernaccia with a long, caressing finish. 90pts
2019 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very stony on the nose, a touch of eggshell adds some detail with ripe apple and grapefruit notes lurking in the background. Almost delicate in the mouth with fairly mature fruit flavors showing a touch of bruised apple and a suggestion of sweetness but this retains its firm dusty character on the palate. A nice blend of gentle chewiness and firm taut structure. This feels too young and should improve in the bottle. Lovely vinosity and nerve. Finishes just a touch short but lovely. 90pts
89
2019 Agricoltori del Chianti Geografico Borgo alla Terre Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very fragrant, delicate yellow apple and apple blossom aromas. Zesty, good acids, a nice base note of chalk, a touch of bitter apple on the palate, good length, a bit simple but very zesty. 89pts
2019 Fattoria Poggio Alloro Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Ripe apples on the nose show a little sweetness but it's nicely balanced by hints of bay leaf, tomato, and almond. Crisp, a touch richer than expected by quite classic, with lovely nuanced flavors that turn a bit peachy in the mouth yet retin good transparency and verve. Clean modest finish. 89pts
2018 Tenuta La Vigna Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Floral and sweetly citrusy on the nose with a touch of jasmine adding an exotic note. Bright, firm, clear if quite ripe on the paate. Tense and nervous in the mouth with lots of juicy citrus flavors and a hint of fennel seed lending a twist. Nervous and fairly powerful this is impressive but perhaps could be a touch more delicate. 89pts
2017 Tenute Le Calcinaie Vigna al Sassi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit oaky, woodsy on the nose, fairly complex with bitter apple, leafy, and sandy aromas. Pleasantly soft and approachable in the mouth. A nuanced style with admirable complexity on the palate and an intelligent use of oak which has softened the wine, supplied a gentle wood underlay and suggestion of sweetness but has not obscured the raw materials. Supple, complex, and with decent length. 89pts
88
2019 Collemucioli Madre Terra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Reticent though with attractive white floral, fresh apple and chalky stone aromas. Small scaled, easy going, fresh and crisp, though not without a certain softness. Not a big wine at all but well balanced, fairly elegant and typical. 88pts
2018 Fattoria di Fugnano e Bombereto Dona Gina Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Deep and complex, there's really a lot going on here with lovely ripe fruit, dried herbs, and salty yellow plum notes, A touch loosely knit on the palate, though elegant and supple with a lovely hint of evolution lending this complexity and suppleness, finishes a bit short, but with a hint of salinity and nice river stone minerality fading into the background. 88pts
2019 Macinato - Massi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Fine and intense aromas of citrus fruits, fresh green herbs and sandy soil tones. A touch loose in the mouth, though this is fairly intense and shows nice lift in the mouth. A bit tight on the backend and through the Juicy, nervous finish. Lacks some flavor intensity but shows fine structure. 88pts
2019 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Rather stony on the nose with lovely lilac, lemon pith, passionfruity, and jellied lemon perfumes. Clean and direct in the mouth, a touch simple and subtle but with lovely flavors of lemon and flowers. Decent follow through on the palate, Simple one two step on the palate but this is rugged, dusty and faceted on the finish. Could use a touch more depth to the flavors but this feels terrific and finishes well 88pts
2018 Pietrafitta Il Borghetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very clear and transparent on the nose with nuanced mineral water polleny flower, saffron, and slightly salty lemon aromas. Very direct and linear in the mouth, unfettered, lacking a bit of depth perhaps but delivering nuanced floral framed almost peachy sweet pear fruit flavors. Modest finish Delicae, easy going if not without a degree of sophistication. 88pts
2019 Poderi Arcangelo Terra del Lago Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells waxy and peachy and moderately ripe. A more rounded and generous interpretation without the detail and sheer excitement of the Primo Angelo, but this is lovely in its own right. Riper and slightly fruitier, with fine dusty depth and some earthy and floral top notes on the palate. Light, not at all easy going but a fruity style that shows a hint of oxidative process and is less exciting. 88pts
2019 Signano Poggiarelli Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very light and delicate on the nose, a meadow after the rain. A whisper of a wine, quite pleasant but so light, and elegant and fresh. A like this but it lacks some depth and naucne though it is probably the most drinkable wine of the tasting. Clean, pure, and precise. So refined. 88pts
2018 Tenuta Montagnani Frammenti Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite earthy and clay tinged on the nose. Shows some ripe fruit, almost blue tinged and plummy flavor over an assertive mineral base. Supple and fairly full in the mouth. Crafted like a Chardonnay drinker’s Vernaccia. There's a lot of richness here lending suppleness and fruit is rather ripe though stil all apple and pear toned with a pleasant mineral and dried floral undertone. Actually quite attractive on the finish. A little too easy for me but I see where this fits in the marketplace. 88pts
87
2017 Cappella Sant'Andrea Prima Luce Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Woody, intense but rather obscured by oak. The oak is better integrated in the mouth where this shows nice soil and slightly dried fruit flavors, but it's a bit rough going. Though long with dried citrus, plenty of acid and a hint of wood tannin. 87pts
2018 Collemucioli Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Slightly spicy and vaguely vegetal, green apple fruit on the nose. A bit flinty. Lean, linear, a touch soft in the mouth, but pleasant with a firm, stony core. Racy, fresh, easy to drink but not facile. 87pts
2019 Collina dei Venti Libera Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite floral, but also vaguely meaty with a medicinal undertone, perhaps a suggestion of green tomato. A bit loose, though fresh, well balanced, and with a very pleasant if easy going mouthfeel, clean, fresh, brisk finish. 87pts
2017 Fontaleoni Casanuova Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch oaky, inoffensive but present and framing the core of rather sweet smelling candied apple fruit. A crowd pleasing style that combines suppleness, a touch of cremainess, finely rendered fruit and a nice if modestly long stony finale. It's understated and a touch pedestrian but many people will enjoy this. 87pts
2018 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara Campo delle Pieve Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Heathery on the nose and a touch animale though with attractively saline minerality and dried floral aromas. Lacking a bit of focus in the mouth, though pleasant and almost easy going with modest length and pleasant minerality. This is firm, if a bit subtle. With modest length. 87pts
2019 Lebbio Tropie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very perfumed, lots of baby powder on the nose, then turning lightly rose scented and vaguely guava scented. Fluid in the mouth, light, fresh, good detail but not terribly complex. It is attractively dusty and floral in the mouth, though it finishes abruptly with little follow through. Easy to drink yet with some grip. 87pts
2019 Il Palagione Hydra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit passionfruity on the nose, then a touch stony but fairly exotic and tropical. Clean, zesty and vibrant in the mouth, a bit tropical and passion fruity here as well. Simple one two punch of slightly atypical fruit but it is zesty and refreshing. 87pts
2017 Il Palagione Lyra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very subtle wood here on the nose lending some complexity and nance to the core of ripe yellow apple, lilac and gravel aromas. Soft, rather caressing in the mouth, decent depth with more bruised apple flavors. Nice cut on the modest finish. Shows some nuanced evolution on the palate finishing with a touch of old wood. 87pts
2018 Montenidoli Fiore Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Earthy, complex natural wine smell. Slightly braised vegetal and herbal cast to the aromatics with a gentle smoky top not. A bit compact in the mouth, a tight kernel of fruit crosses the palate though here the slightly oxidative style is a touch distracting. Fresh, with good cut, modest length, but a zesty and slightly tannic finale. A touch of polyphenolic bitreness. Fascinating but a touch to subtle. 87pts
2017 Pietrafitta La Costa Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Deep and waxy on the nose with some old wood framing notes supporting a core of almost red fruits, hinting at cranberry and cherry. Very complex and nuanced if unique. Polished, supple and rich wine though not weighty. Almost plush with a very generous feel. Though it lacks some detail and depth. A somewhat opulent wine that feels good, with good freshness but lacks details. 87pts
2019 Podere Le Volute Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Citrus, sage, and cut grass come together on the very fresh nose. Gains some floral top notes, this smells terrific and inviting in a very fresh and fruity style. Linear, a touch rounder and more glycerine rich thathan I would have guessed from the nose Nice but not as fresh as the nose promised with a palate that is a touch heavy finishing with a slightl sense of dullness. Chewy and slightly clumsy. It’s powerful, with good minerality but lacks some detail on the palate. 87pts
2019 Podere del Paradiso Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very floral and quite herbal on the nose, almost medicinal with grassy and green fennel notes. Linear, with an attractive sheen of padding on the palate that helps buffer the moderately firm structure here. Pleasant with good nuance on the palate, juicy acidity and fresh floral and citrus flavors. A bit commercial in feel though. 87pts
2019 Tenuta le Vigna Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Intense, a bit limestony on the nose with a dab of orangy citrus character and fine, nuanced floral notes. Broad and firm in the mouth, slightly spicy with a steely backbone. Firm, racy and a bit lean with decent length though this does lack some depth and complexity it’s certainly an assertive style. 87pts
86
2017 Casa alle Vacche Crocus Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite ripe, hints of kumquat, white flowers, and chalk, with a fine woody backing note, A touch loose in the mouth, and a touch chewy, but rich and plump, finish is short, clean but simple. 86pts
2019 Castello Montauto - Famiglia Cecchi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Cider apples, apple peels and a fine almond note come together on the nose. A bit low on the palate, and lacking some life. Moderately rich, with fine flavors of slightly frooti fruit, decent length though not much complexity. 86pts
2016 Collina dei Venti Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Old oak, bit dirty, slightly minty though dank. Fresh and simple with that oak influence tempered by pleasantly ripe orchard fruits. Don’t keep this any longer though. It does offer admirable complexity and length on the rather long finish. 86pts
2019 Fattorie Melini Le Grillaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Reticent on the nose though pleasant aromas of gauze, pear fruit,and a touch of wild grassiness does emerge with time. Soft, easy going style, with decent pear fruit, and some attractive grassy detail emerge on the palate. There's some nice covering flesh here making this supple and easy to drink with a modest finish. 86pts
2019 Lebbio Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lots of sage graces the nose with sandy soil tones, asaline streak and an incipient petrol note. A touch diffuse in the mouth with lots of pear fruit, a touch frooti, slightly sweet flavors, though most likely totally dry. Decent length but simple. 86pts
2018 Panizzi Vigna Santa Margherita Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A touch woodsy on the nose lending notable complexity but this smells a bit compressed and simple because of it. Soft in the mouth, supple, with some tannin early on the palate, a bit lean, again it is firm on the finish but there’s not a lot of covering material here. A bit chewy, Can’t call this rustic, but it is ungenerous and stern. 86pts
2019 Pietrafitta Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells like ass, takes a bit to get rid of the sulphur, though a suggestion remains, what emerges is rather fragrant if delicate orange pith and orange blossom aroma. Fresh, juicy, easy going if a bit orange in the mouth where the sulfur continues to obscure further detail. Clean modest finish. Brisk, small scaled wine. 86pts
2019 Teruzzi Isola Bianco Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lemon zesty and beautifully, piercingly floral on the nose. A bit gentle early in the mouth, this is quite zesty and a little dusty in the mouth, Show some pear skin character in the mouth. Simple but pleasant with nice aromaticity to the fruit in the mouth. 86pts
85
2019 Casa Lucil Mareterra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit stink, and grassy on the nose, with lots or oregano, chalk and again rather meaty aromas, A touch diffuse in the mouth, pleasantly if slightly too ripe with slightly tired, over ripe orchard fruit flavors that finish with a finely assertive mineral note of good length, but you have to like those very ripe fruit flavors 85pts
2017 San Benedetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smoky oak joins dried herb, soil, and dried apricot aromas on the nose. Lithe in the mouth, feathery almost with good energy and an almost diffuse but rather elegant palate impression. Not very intense but delicate and lacy with a fairly tannic finish for such a lacy wine. Dries out the finish. 85pts
2019 San Donato Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Hints of bruised orange and prosciutto grace the sandy, white floral nose. Pleasant in the mouth with a gentle wash of tannins on the palate. Lacks some depth, and is a bit short but its pleasant and easy to drink with some dusty minerality on the finish. 85pts
84
2017 Alessandro Tofanari Astrea Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit meaty, reticent, driven by earth with some seashell accents, Broad, a touch loose in the mouth, pleasant if relaxed and not very fruity in style. A touch low on the finish. Subtle, easy to drink but uncomplicated. 84pts
2019 Casa alle Vacche Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite rite fruity on the nose, a little frooti, tutti frutti, Diffuse in the mouth, small, a ball of fruit, apple and peach, finishes quickly with a hint of mineralty, almost steely, 84pts
2019 Fattorie Melini Conti Serristori Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells mostly stony with hints of ragu, celery, and green pear fruit. Very direct on the palate, a bit lean but fresh with decent drive, lacks much of a finish but is easy drinking if a bit innocuous. 84pts
2017 Il Palagione Lei Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Intensely ripe, slightly oxidized, and raher cedary on the nose, a bit too much oxidation. Fresh and fluid in the mouth, nutty, some pachy character, modest complexity and intensity. A bit tired flavor profile. Almost no finish. 84pts
2018 Il Palagione Ori Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Rather indistinct on the nose, a hint of cider apples and some chalky, blue floral tones. A nice almost sweet leading edge here, followed by earthy flavors that are subtle and simple with a stony, moderately long zesty finish. Pleasant if simple. 84pts
2019 Mormoraia Suavis Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Deep, pithy citrussy aromatics also show a touch of passionfruit and green herbs. A touch diffuse in the mouth, simple and easy going on the palate. Modest finish, minimal complexity. This is at least juicy with some polleny notes on the finale. 84pts
2018 Mormoraia Ostrea Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very floral, iris and pyrithion scented with orange marmalade and passionfruit notes. A bit loose in the mouth, pleasant but lacking some tension Finishes abruptly with some citrusy fruit and a dry, austere finally. Just not enough here. There's some nice perfumed citrus fruit on the palate but it's subtle. A bit chewy. 84pts
2016 Tollena Signorina Vittoria Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Oaky and just woody on the nose, a bit sandalwoody and exotic in that sense. Not objectionable in the mouth, smooth, supple, yet bright enough with vague minerality and some waxy apple fruit on the palate, but fairly minor wine with a noticeable dose of wood tannin on the modest finish. 84pts
83
2019 Cantina Guida Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Gently floral and dusty on the nose. A bit diffuse in the mouth, lacks some detail, easy to drink but soft and not well defined 83pts
2018 Cappella Sant'Andrea Rialto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Again rather peachy, even apricoty, with complicating notes of slate and citrus zest. A bit diffuse, not much to this. 83pts
2017 Cesani Sanice Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Cigar box, dried blond tobacco, and smoky grilled meats on the nose. A bit loose, lacks a center, decent flavors with a certain glycerine sweetness to the wine punctuated by fine dusty mineral tones with a brief finish. 83pts
2018 Macinato - Massi Massi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite ripe and apricotty on the nose, A bit odd and atypical, just too honied and jammy. Soft in the mouth, loose and indistinct with pleasant flavors of honied fruit, peachy, and supported by subtle oak tones. Clean and finishing with decent acids but a pall of oak lurks over the over-ripe fruit. Clumsy. 83pts
2018 San Benedetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit grapey on the nose, some fruit jelly notes, certainly ripe but with a broad array of fruity aromas. A touch heavy and figgy on entry. All the fruit of the nose appears on the palate, making this a bit heavy and dull with a short finish. No shortage of acidity so at least this refreshes the palate but the flavors are heavy and slightly honied. 83pts
2019 San Quirico Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit of caramel greets the nose followed by aromas of bruised fruit, soda water, and roasted nuts. Loose and indistinct on the palate, this shows over ripe flavors on the palate as well with an oxidative cast. A bit dull and short as well. 83pts
82
2018 Poggio Alloro Le Mandorle Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Smells a bit oaky layered over wildflower and fairly tropical fruit. Soft on entry, broad, lacks some liveliness in the mouth, Dull, a bit heavy, and short. 82pts
2018 Tenuta Montagnani Assola Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Showing candied violet notes early on the palate, this smells strongly of church incense and candle wax. Soft and a touch loose in the mouth, this is easy going and a touch dilute with a very modest finish. Not much here. 82pts
81
2018 Cesani Clamys Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Stone, sweet apricot jam and putty on the nose with a touch of something vaguely sour and meaty. Moderately rich, smooth, easy drinking if lacking a bit of intensity. Foursquare with an oddly tannic finish. 81pts
80
2018 Fornacelle Fiora Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lumber yard, smoky, torrefaction, quince paste, Light and fresh in the mouth, though the wood influence is quite pronounced, short, not for me. 80
2019 Tollena Lunario Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Stinky, a bit oxidative, very nutty and gamy. Light and surprisingly fresh in the mouth though there is that oxidative, nuttiness lurking in the background and a gaminess to the palate. Almost a touch of truffle to the honeyed, over-ripe citrus flavors. A bit tough going in the mouth. I just don’t like this flavor profile. 80pts
Not recommended
2016 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite oaky, there's some citruss character lurking but this is a bit of an oak bomb. Rather fresh in the mouth, there's pleasant apricot fruit here but this carries an important if not totally dominant load of oak. There's plenty of wood tannin here as well. It does retain good fruit, but the sweet and spicy oak is just too dominant for this to be enjoyable. Yuck. 77pts
2017 Teruzzi Sant’Elena Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very subdued, mineral water and a suggestion of mustiness. A little sweet and loose in the mouth with lots of pear and apricot fruit. Dull, a bit chewy, lifeless and short. 77pts
2019 Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Green on the nose, very distinct pickle juice, like pure pickle juice, Fresh, modest scale, very vague flavors of pickle juice, dill, and bitter apple on the palate with a thankfully brief finish. 76pts
2017 San Quirico Isabella Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Some freshly sawn lumber greets the nose, a bi resiny and green followed by some citrusy and floral aromas. A bit neutral in the mouth, pleasantly sculpted but the resiny wood arrives late on the palate obscuring any further detail. Oh this is really not for me. 76pts