Vernaccia di San Gimignano Anteprima 2021
This is an admittedly much delayed look at Vernaccia di San Gimignano poured at Anteprima Toscana 2021. While the wine is what we will be focusing on, it is worth adding a few words here about the Anteprima event this COVID impacted year. I have to say that the organizers of Anteprima Toscana have never been faced with such important concerns, and yet the 2021 event not only went off without a hitch, I dare say it was the best organized, perhaps by necessity, and smoothest run Anteprima event that I have attended. From the brilliantly functional online tasting guide used by Chianti Classico to the general approach shared by all regions I was absolutely impressed by the respect and efforts exerted to make the best use of my very limited time. At the time of the event non quarantine travelers were limited to fewer than 120 hours in country, and the organizers were sure to make the most of my 115 hours! A great thank you to all involved in setting up and pulling off this great series of events.
Now onto the wine, I have started cleaning up my notes with those regarding Vernaccia di San Gimignano. I really do love some of these wines, though I find that the wide gamut of styles presented can cause some head scratching among consumers. Not that variety is a bad thing, or that wines of vastly differing styles can’t be equally attractive. But I do have to wonder what typical consumers think of when they think of Vernaccia di San Gimignano. I can tell you that I think of hint of flowers, apricots, melons, citrus fruits, minerality, a light salinity and a hint of citrus pith or almond all presented in a modestly rich and fairly racy package when I think of Vernaccia di San Gimignano. This may not be correct in its totality, but it does give me pause when I find wines that are rich, soft, broad, and decidedly richer in ripe fruits.
In the end I am not some arbiter of what can and cannot be Vernaccia di San Gimignano, I simply have and can present my preferences, and in doing so I hope to be able to guide consumers towards wine choices that please their palates. One of the fundamental elements of such reporting is that it is more important to focus on trends rather than individual data points and to that end I have assembled a listing over time to help identify producers to follow as opposed to individual wines to chase. Wine tasting is an imperfect business. But over time certain wines do indeed emerge as more consistent performers in these forums. These are the sorts of wines I keep track of, and ultimately recommend to my readers.
So without further ado, a look over time at my top scoring Vernaccia di San Gimignano with notes on all wines tasted during the Anteprima Toscana blind tasting event in 2021. It is worth noting that the best wines of 2020 really are terrific, possessing the energy and vibrancy that I look for in Vernaccia di San Gimignano! I loved this tasting and look forward to trying these wines in the future.
While not every wine was poured consistently over the past three Anteprima events, there are obviously a small group of wines, and producers that have repeatedly produced wines that stood out for me. The short list of these producers includes:
Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Signano Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Tenuta La Vigna Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Montenidoli Tradizionale Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
La Lastra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
In addition the following producers have appeared more than once on my favorites list, though with different bottlings.
Guicciardini Strozzi
Fattoria di Fugnano
Cappella Sant'Andrea
And finally the only wine to make my top recommendation list in all three years, and a wine that stands in stark contrast to the previous wine, all more traditionally styled and leaning towards the crisp, mineral end of the Vernaccia spectrum, we have:
Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara L’Albereta Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Which goes against everything I’ve just written. A barrique aged Vernaccia. This is not the wine I want, but it is a wine I like, so with a very open mind I can recognize it for what it is and enjoy it for the terrific experience it offers consumers!
My individual notes from Anteprima Toscan 2021 Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2020
1 2020 Abbazia Monte Oliveto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Light, fresh fruity, green and golden apple with a gentle suggestion of sweet mint, bright and juicy, nice mineral background, a fresh style, easy to drink, lots of dustiness and verve easy but not facile 88
2 2020 Cantine Guidi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Lemon drop and mineral water, not intense, a hint of grass and green herb, Rounded, almost lush, very seductive texture, still reveals some minerality late on the palate that is very palate cleansing and long, A delicate style that is not aromatic but very enjoyable. 87
3 2020 Cappella Sant'Andrea Clara Stella Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Gummy and vaguely minty, lots of bubblegum character, some cider apple notes and a hint of almond. Tart and yet fuller of body. Easy to drink, this is texturally quite populary styled, Long with that hint of mineral bitterness. Intriguing blend of mass and nuance. 86
4 2020 Casa alle Vacche Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Very subtle nose, has the usual attributes but very faint. Same on the palate. Just not much here. 78
5 2020 Casa alle Vacche I Macchioni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Seashells and clay greet the nose followed by lemon and kumquat notes and dried flowers. A touch sweet on entry, certainly sweetly fruited, hint of banana, fruit veers towards tropical, some bubble gum on the palate. A bit nondescript, but pleasant. 85
6 2020 Casa Lucii Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Sandy, dusty, yellow apple and a hint of apricot, along with some fennel. Supple, easy going, nicely done, sort of Muscadet like, certainly refreshing and fairly salty, finishes cleanly, a touch small but lovely wine with fine floral aromatics on the finale. I do really like this. 88
7 2020 Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Bruised yellow fruit, figs, strong lemon verbena note, Big on entry, carrying plenty of fruit sweetness, which stretches across the palate, a very fruity style with almost no finish. Pulpy. 80
8 2020 Collemuccioli Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Iris, wet beach, iodine, a hint of blueberry, Tense in the mouth, super nervous style that has body, then this turns rather clear on the palate, quite crystalline, gaining salinity through the backend and onto the modest finish. Very complete. This is lovely and I can see this improving. 92
9 2020 Collina dei Venti Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Confectioners sugar, lemon leaf, a touch of nuttiness, bubblegum, Rather lemony in the mouth and fairly overtly fruity, lemon, quince, a hint of licorice, lots of acid, which it needs to balance the fruit early on the palate but that leaves the finish as rather tart, long, but distinctly acid driven. 88
10 2020 Fattoria di Fugnano Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Savory and waxy on the nose, floral and sandy with hints of menthol. Supple yet firm at the same time, seems like there’s plenty of covering material here lending this a seductive feel, but the acidity is firm and keeps things lively on the mid palate and through the medium length yet intense finish. This is packed with fruit yet somehow retains a sense of delicacy. Love it, wish it had a little more length. 92
11 2020 Fattoria San Donato Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Gentle bruised orchard fruits, a hint of blue fruit, reticent if fruity. Sweet on entry as well with fuzzy peach skin tannins lending lots of grip through the long finish. A rich style, probably will improve with age, is definitely impressive even if it’s not what I’m looking for. Would love to revisit this in a year. 90
12 2020 Fattorie Melini Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Intensely pollen and citrus fruited, quite candied as well with lots of jolly rancher melon fruit and deep peachy tones. Heavy on entry, and certainly laden with fruit, just like the nose: a peachy, cantaloup bomb. It’s a touch soft, and short, no real minerality or salinity that I look for. 83
13 2020 Fornacelle Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Necco wafer sweet, dusty, a hint of ginseng, Bright, succulent, lovely fruit in the mouth, tart apple and pithy citrus flavors, real tension and energy here, drops off a tad on the backend before returning with strong mineral drive and gentle salinity not he long finish. 90
14 2020 Geografico Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Heathery and almost a bit weedy, with tart fruitiness lurking underneath a bit of smokiness, Bright in the mouth, delivering more fruit than the nose would suggest, actually very attractive on the palate, lots of lemon and nectarine flavors, with a pleasant little finish. Plate is better than the nose. 87
15 2020 Guicciardini Strozzi Villa Cusona Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Apricots and almonds, menthol, and sand. Very direct, there is a slightly off putting layer of fat here, wrapped around a core of bitter, mineral laden fruit that really drives the finish. A dusting of tannins features on the finale. A very challenging example that delivers a lot but for a narrow audience. Should age well. 93
16 2020 Guicciardini Strozzi Titolato Strozzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Rather reticent on the nose, a bit floral, slightly antiseptic, and hints of waxy yellow fruits. Moderately rich, delivering plenty of those waxy, almost woody fruit flavors on the palate, layered over some salty clay notes. Good follow through. 87
17 2020 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara Selvabianca Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Perfumed, passionfruit greets the nose followed by some nuttiness and a hint of quince and green apple. Large scaled, this makes a statement, very fresh and rich but not vulgar. Deep fruit flavors, kumquat, melon on the palate are very fresh and pure, Finished with good length, and verve, refreshing mostly fruit flavors with just a hint of almond skin and salted fruit. Love this, wouldn’t be able to drink too much but would enjoy a glass or two. 92
18 2020 Il Lebbio Floreale Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Nutty and savory on the nose, waxy and slightly vegetal, Almost sweet on entry, or perhaps actually sweet, with plenty of Melon fruit up front followed by a bay leaf note, dusty tannins on the finish. All framed by a lemony note. But it all lacks some harmony. 83
19 2020 Il Palagione Hydra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit of a candied citrus peel note not he nose, with pithy notes and a nice floral background. Lots of fruit up front. A bit sweet tart which is attractive but this is a bit too fruity for my palate, and comes as a bit pasty in the mouth, though with plenty of acidity to drive the finish, but it can’t quite get the palate cleansed. In fact this is quite acidic. 83
20 2020 La Lastra Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Natural nose, stick and stones, chalk, and white fruit with lemon pith. Unfettered in the mouth, kind of sleek, and smooth, with a vibrant core of citrus flavors. A faint nuttiness joins the chorus on the backend, before this fades on a long, caressing, sticks and stones finish. Not bold, nor intense, though not lacking depth of flavor, this is just right and while the profile doesn’t have universal appeal, it should. Delicious if slightly cerebral. 94
21 2020 Mormoraia Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Wow, different and intense, a hint of strawberry, a drop of cola, lots of candle wax, faint lemon jelly. So much smaller on entry than I expected this to be, it’s another finely textured example, supple a bit broad, finishing a touch short but with great purity and precision to the flavors. A lovely wine, nuanced and almost delicate with lovely balance. 91
22 2020 Palagetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Rather earthy on the nose with hints of waxiness and oyster shells along with almonds, and orchard fruits. A touch diffuses in the mouth, very pleasant and easy going, and not lacking volume, just some depth of flavor. Finishes with some almond, mineral, and salty notes. A good introduction to Vernaccia. Really drinkable. 87
24 2020 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Prosciutto and lardo aromas greet the nose along with some caramel and dried fruit notes. Weighty on entry, this is rich and on the softer side, though still with fine supporting acidity. Kind of apple fruit driven, with good length, A bit too smooth with a simple one two punch of apple fruit and some sandy, heathery notes on the finish. 86
25 2020 Podere Le Volute Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A bit farty, quite mineral and slightly waxy under that, tart, very mineral water driven flavors with a spritz of lemon and lemon pith. Simple and very pleasant with a lovely finish, another very Muscadet like example. Certainly more aromatic but built along similar lines. 86
26 2020 Poderi del Paradiso Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Deeply aromatic with an almost gooseberry like fruitiness, layered over sand, almond husk, and tea notes. Tart, round and a bit innocuous. Not unpleasant, juicy with faint straw and yellow fruit flavors in a round, gulpabble style. 82
27 2020 San Benedetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Dark, a hint of leather, some nuttiness, lots of quince fruit with a light jasmine top note. Lovely entry, almost lean but with enough flesh to fill its frame, lacy, sinewy, lots of minerality with blue floral notes. This is notably tannic. Tense nervous, a welterweight champion. This might be my favorite so far, if not the best, So dusty and zesty on the finale. 92
28 2020 San Quirico Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Quite floral, but also quite laced with menthol and antiseptic aromas, with gentle apricot, yellow orchard fruit undertones. A touch compact not he palate with a certain density of over-ripe fruit flavors that lends this a slightly lumpy feel. Lumpy, the flavors come in lumps, finishes with good length, attractive chalkiness but also a touch of bitterness. 84
29 2020 Signano Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Strong chamomile aromas lay over orange marmalade, apricot, and salty quartz notes. Powerful on entry, deep and rich with waxy, very ripe fruit flavors. Pretty much without a finish, It’s easy drinking and growing on me with it’s light but ripe fruit flavors, dusty tannins, and compact feel, but it really has no finish. 84
30 2020 Sognano Poggiarelli Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Fresh slice fruit, quince, apple, lemon, all come together along with a hint of almond skin mediterranean herb. A touch of almost sweetness on entry, then this settles down to reveal, the simple, pure and attractive fruit flavors of the nose, very drinkable style, with decent length, but this is all about the freshness and lovely fruit. 87
31 2020 Tenuta La Vigna Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Gently floral, peonies, along with quince jelly, almonds and a hint of fennel pollen. Intense on entry, much more peachy fruit than the nose suggests, lots going on here, rather stoney in the mouth with a big aromatic finish. A bit challenging, and angular, probably will benefit from a year in the bottle. I like this, it’s all about stones and apple cores, puckers the mouth. Not my first choice to drink perhaps but fascinating to taste. 93
32 2020 Tenuta le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Apricot and lemons, almonds, and white flowers with just a hint of Mediterranean herb. Textbook nose. Intensely fruity on entry, sweet/tart in the best sense, this is fun to drink, Not terribly complex but so zesty, the acid perhaps obscuring some detail, but cleansing the palate beautifully. 87
33 2020 Teruzzi Isola Bianca Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A more savory nose, with hints of figs, white tea, and sand. A bit lean in the mouth, still with fine fruit, a touch of over-ripeness in the flavor profile perhaps. More green tea like not he palate with decent length and nice minerality, finishing with a bit of savory depth. 86
34 2020 Tollena Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Full on fart here, and it’s not going anywhere. Light and fresh in the mouth, though the hydrogen sulfide is obvious. Better luck next year. 68
35 2020 Vagnoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano
A lovely fruit aromatic profile, fresh with a mix of citrus and orchard fruit aromas topped with a subtle candied tone along with a dusting of pollen. Juicy, fruity, a bit sweet. Actually a bit sweet. The backend gains some cut, with a little minerality and a tannin or two, but this is mostly a fruit bomb. 84
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione 2019
36 2019 Alessandro Tofanari Ciprea Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
A bit of a medicinal nose here, almonds, antiseptic, butchers wax, pollen yellow flowers, and some rosemary toned largo. On entry this is almost sage like, meaty with an herbal scent, then the fruit, rather lean and pithy emerges, leading to an almond and herbal finish. A natural wine, but terrific for what it is. Really zesty and energetic in the mouth. And long with a finely detailed finish. Firing on all cylinders. 92
37 2019 Cappella Sant'Andrea Rialto Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Smells like washing citrus fruits in a riverbed. Very outdoorsy, a bit of meadow after a rain. Lacks the vibrancy the nose suggests. A bit weighty in the mouth, with good depth and real assertive river stones character, but this lacks lift on the palate, and fades quickly on the finish. The nose is terrific, the palate a bit of a letdown. Pleasant 85
38 2019 Cappella Sant'Andrea Rialto Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Heathery with a tangerine top note, and lots of brewed tea aromas, Bright and juicy in the mouth, with fruit flavors that have an orange cast to them along with a jellied flavor. A little odd the tartness with those candied tones. A modest finish. Lacks some depth on the palate. Finishes with lots of minerality and acidity. 84
39 2019 Fattoria di Fugnano Donna Gina Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Lemon rind, almond, and lots of Mediterranean herb on the nose. Bright, fresh style embraces the slight astringency of the grape, I would say this is easy going in style, but the herbal/mineral flavor profile and the tannic astringency will always make this for a particular palate. Still, it’s terrific, a wine that makes you stop and think. 90
40 2019 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara Campo della Pieve Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Rather stony and stemmy on the nose, a bit minty with faint green apple fruits. Lots of green apple right up front on the palate, a fair amount of flesh here as well, there’s a fine testiness here, but it turns just a bit obviously tart on the backend, leading to a simple acid driven finish. Easy drinking style. 86
41 2019 Montenidoli Tradizionale Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Natural wine, waxy, paraffin, sticks and stones, dried herbs, dried rose petals, nuanced and complex if basically devoid of fruit, Supple on entry, seductively textured, like cashmere, the flavors are what they are, there a little citrus fruit here but it’s mostly earthy, herbal, bees wax and lardo type flavors, but the texture is wonderful leading to a fine, nuanced and savory finish. 91
42 2019 Montenidoli Fiore Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
A little strange on the nose, antiseptic with a hint of over-ripe pineapple, and then rather meaty with the smell of ragu. Big on entry, sweet, rounded in style, rather savory, a bit short, but this does combine a certain sense of power with complexity, though no great follow through. 86
43 2019 Mormoraia Ostrea Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Cool smelling, nuanced though with sweet tea, caramel, and anise seed aromas that set this apart. A touch softer and languid in the mouth. Round, supple, still juicy enough, with indistinct fruit flavors and a nice stoney note on the fairly long finish. A bit pedestrian. 85
44 2019 Palagetto Vent'anni Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Heathery, stony, lemon/limey, mouthwatering and attractive nose. A fruity entry quickly is washed away by the citrus fruit flavors and supporting acidity here. A ripe orchard fruit tomn lurks in the background, then this fades away fairly quickly. A juicy, simple, middle of the road Vernaccia. 85
45 2019 Panizzi Vigna Santa Margherita Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Zesty nose, menthol topped, butchers wax, macchia herbs, slight dried pear note. Smooth, and taut in the mouth, good depth of flavor, nice richness here, it’s almost plush and at least seamless. Transitions beautifully to a subtle savory finish with just a hint of minerality. Easy to overlook this in the middle of all these wines but it is a rather sophisticated take on Vernaccia that has the rare quality of combining wide appeal with cerebral appeal. 92
46 2019 Poderi del Paradiso Biscondola Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Passionfruit, sand, almond skin, very subtle, very clean. A surprising fruitiness on entry, I expected a racier wine, but this is modernly rounded, a little melon, then quite sandy and herbal on the medium length finish. I want to like this a little more, but it’s boring. 84
47 2019 Terre di Severnaja di Tenuta Montagnani Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
A little stinky on the nose, but also complex with Quincy fruit and some white floral notes along with a touch of waxiness. Lean on the palate, racy, wraps the palate in subtle savoriness, with a quince note buried beneath. Subtle, detailed, fairly tannic, this is trying hard. Mostly succeeding. Challenging wine but worth the effort. I want to drink this. 91
48 2019 Il Palagione Lyra Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Very heathery with a menthol top note, an almost mushroomy accent note followed by gentle honey tones. Very bright and juicy on entry, you can feel the minerality lurking under the ripe sweet Meyer lemon and green apple fruit. Decent finish really lovely fresh interplay of fruit and minerality here. A bit simple and a touch short.but the finish is pure stone. 89
49 2019 Montenidoli Carato Vernaccia di San Gimignano Selezione
Honey, lemon, tea, verbena, menthol, prosciutto. A bit soft, broad in the mouth, languid, juicy but still languid. Pretty uninteresting. Hard to follow these vivid wines with something so relaxed. It’s got a hazelnut and honey natural wine flavor profile laced with herb and dried lemon zest. It’s very pleasant but will never show well in comparative tastings.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva 2019
50 2019 Collemuccioli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Resinous, faint oak, apricot, more oak. Bright juicy, shows a very subtle interred wood spice component early on the palate that contributes complexity but then the fruit character comes off as a bit dulled. Fine texture, really quite elegant and refined, but the fruit is clouded. 87
51 2019 Il Palagione Ori Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Earthy, concrete, nutty with a forest floor attribute. Bright, rather vivid, lacy on the palate, this is lovely with fruit that shows a slight dried citrus peel aspect to the apple core. Clean, decent finish though it comes off as just a bit clipped. Super approachable and easy to drink. Succulent. 87
52 2019 La Lastra Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Lots of necco wafer character, that weird cocoa quality, a bit prosciutto and almost coffee toned. Broad but a bit flat int he mouth, good depth to the one two punch of that caramel, slight torrefaction/dried fruit notes and the green apple fruit. They really don’t work that well together. Not harmonious. 82
53 2019 Signano La Ginestra Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Oaky, almost offensively so. I can smell anything else, maybe some citrus base notes. I couldn’t;t tell you wha this was. I would guess cheap, oaky French Chardonnay. 78
54 2019 Tenuta La Vigna Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
A hint of Oak, green apple, nutty notes, and grapefruit pith come together nicely here. Round and opulent on entry, then plenty of minerality and acidity keep this lively, though there is a streak of caramel that runs through it. Almost a touch smoky on the backend, the finish reveals fine cut and detail. A very good wine, just not sure this is the best expression of Vernaccia. 91
55 2019 Terre di Severnaja di Tenuta Montagnani Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Woodsy, subtle, rather sandy and almost autumnal with incipient forest floor notes. Honied on entry, then preserved citrus notes follow, has a fine candied edge without the dark impression of caramel. Round, elegant and well balanced, this is lovely, easy to understand and with a rather modest finish. But very well put together and easy to drink. 90
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva 2018
56 2018 Cantine Guidi Aurea Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Resiny wood, Lemon, rosemary, Bright, tart on entry, supporting tart apple fruit, polished feel, fades to nothing. Not sure what the point is here, very simple, well made wine. 80
57 2018 Cappella Sant'Andrea Prima Luce Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Apricot, bee’s wax, sand, dried herbs, bresaola, fairly intense and super complex, Wide open, just a different beast, tannic on the palate, almost chewy, hints of dried fruits, nuttiness, almost sweet pipe tobacco, intense and important, with powerful deep, rich finish. Cut from different cloth. This is an achievement. I’m not sure it is objectively better than other Vernaccia but it does make a statement. 93
58 2018 Casa alle Vacche Crocus Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Iodine, sea spray, pure flower pollen, green tea, Round, almost waxy on entry, chewy, a fairly big wine but it lacks detail, No real finish. 80
59 2018 Cesani Sanice Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
A little smoky and a little bacon, dates, A bit diffuse, not much detail here, pleasant but undistinguished. 80
60 2018 Fattoria San Donato Benedetta Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Fine oak, a touch of cigar box cedariness, hot rocks, menthol, A fairly big entry, juicy, slightly monolithic, Rather angular in the mouth, pleasantly so, there’s not a lot of detail here, just tart citrus and green apple fruit, but the texture is lovely and this does finish with a pleasant earthy, slightly mineral tone. 86
61 2018 Guicciardini Strozzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Preserved lemons, sandalwood, middle easter spices, antiseptic, this is downright exotic and gourmand, tense in the mouth, not firm, but still almost sinewy with great purity to the citrus fruit flavors. That sandalwood emerges on the backend before this turns fairly sapid though the long stony finish. Great testiness. A really unique example of Vernaccia but one that succeeds. 92
62 2018 Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara L’Albereta Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Almond with candied almond and dried peach background notes. Juicy, great cut in the mouth which shows more complexity than the nose going deep fruit flavors and showing gentle herbal flourishes. Would like to see more follow through but this delivers a lot of complexity and flavor in a tight, firm package with some dusty minerality on the modest finish. Almost complete 91
63 2018 Palagetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
A bit earthy, rather dried herb driven with lots of dried pear and stone character. Bright, angular and lean in the mouth, has that sort of dried pear flavor which does naturally pair with his lean racy texture so that’s a bit off putting. Lots of butchers wax and old wood on the fairly tannic and surprisingly drying finish. 84
64 2018 San Benedetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Reticent on the nose revealing gentle shadings of green apple, cider apple, dried herb and tree bark aromas. Rather big on entry, tense and modestly tannic, Deep and savory this is one tense wine. It needs cellaring still, it drops off a bit on the backend, leaving the palate with some chalkiness and a touch of heat, but the front of the palate is packed with fruit. I’ll be a bit conservative here but this should improve, the heat is troubling. 88
65 2018 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vigna ai Sassi Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Resinous, a bit oaky, dried apple fruit, baked apples, salty licorice almost, rather languid in the mouth, plenty of substance but it lacks energy, picks up some caramel notes on the palate. Finishes flat footed as well. 82
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva 2017
66. 2017 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Oaky, light but it’s the most obvious element of the nose. It grows in the glass. Bright, no real flavor other than the presence of oak. An easy wine to drink, almost cougar juicy. 80
67. 2017 Tollena Signorina Vittoria Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Natural wine, so complex nutty, waxy, dried herbs, dried flowers, all sort of smells going on here after this line-up this really stands out as something unique. Voluptuous, has all the flavors the nose suggests wrapped in a rich, slightly honied palate that is well balanced by acidity and gentle tannins. It is an earthy wine, not widely popular perhaps but a very valid interpretation of Vernaccia. 91
68 2017 Vagnoni I Mocali Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
A bit oaky but also quite soapy floral, some figgy fruit along with some dried lime zest. Round, feels like it has a touch of rs up front, then it firms up turning attractive with good clarity on the palate. It is a touch sweet, and that’s a bit odd with the flavor profile that runs slightly to the herbal. The resinous quality accentuates the herbal notes. 84
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva 2016
69 2016 Casa Lucii Mareterra Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva
Complex, earthy, woodsy, spicy with hints of white pepper and fenugreek. Light, fairly dances on the palate after these large wines. Juicy, lots of cut apple and peach flavors, not quite as complex as the nose suggests and quite short. Decent wine, subtle with a modest complexity that is friendly and attractive. 86