Castello del Terriccio, Lupicaia, Toscana 2010

What a pleasure it is to taste the 2010 Lupicaia. Fresh and brilliant on the palate, the 2010 boasts superb energy and precision throughout. Rose petal, mint and succulent red-fleshed fruit are all beautifully delineated. The flavors remain quite youthful and vibrant, with little in the way of aromatic nuance. Readers will have to be patient, but there is little doubt the 2010 is a stellar wine with considerable potential. With time in the glass, the 2010 becomes richer, darker and more powerful, hinting at what lies ahead.

The 2010 Lupicaia is another fruit-forward vintage, showing great intensity and depth. What makes this wine unique is its streamlined and focused nature. Overall, it is a ripe, generous and very intense wine with rich flavors and concentration. The integrated tannins are dusty and fine. It would pair well with rich and gamey meats like liver, innards or venison.

Aromas of asphalt, meat and dark fruits follow through to a full body with firm, chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Needs a year or two still to soften but already shows lots of character and polish. Mostly cabernet sauvignon with some merlot and petit verdot. Try in 2017.