Teniute Meraviglia Maestro Di Cava Bolgheri Superiore

The adventure of Cabernet Franc in Bolgheri is an exciting one, since this is one of relatively few zones around the world where this much-courted variety not only flourishes and gives wine with greater poise than Cabernet Sauvignon and more freshness and lift than Merlot, but more importantly retains flesh and succulence as it does so. This dark, opaque black-red wine from the 2020 vintage tells the story well: brisk and alluring on the nose, with soft leather poise behind the svelte fruits; then intense, deep and long on the palate, with mellow tannins, watchful acidity and ample inner energy. It is a luxurious glassful of red, but it contrives to be fresh and appetising, too. This formerly despised and mosquito-ridden coastal zone of Tuscany continues to surprise.