Vignamaggio - Merlot Di Santa Maria 2016

This wine celebrates a cultivar that has been grown for more than 25 years in the vineyards of Vignamaggio. It marries the fruity tones typical of a Merlot with the elegance and freshness that come from the terroir of Vignamaggio and the Greve Valley. It is aged for around 20 months in French oak barriques and then for another six months in the bottle.

The 2016 Merlot di Santa Maria is another compelling wine in this range. The Merlot is rich and creamy, but also has plenty of structure underneath. Black cherry, plum, new leather, spice and earthy notes build in a sumptuous, wonderfully expressive wine that melds together international leanings with a strong Tuscan accent, all while conveying the pedigree of the vintage.

This is a very exciting new submission from Vignamaggio. The 2016 Merlot di Santa Maria (aged in barrique for up to two years) shows a beautiful color and rich saturation. It delivers a blast of Merlot in all its soft, opulent and soothing beauty. That intensity is one of the most celebrated qualities of this classic vintage. Dark cherry and blackberry are immediately bonded to sweet tobacco and cigar box, and the wine shows a robust, full-weight personality. It is a break-out wine for the estate, and a fine job they have done.