The term Super Tuscan was famously created with greats Sassicaia and Tignanello in mind. Last night I tasted a wine I can't get out of my mind. The term Super Tuscan fits it like a glove. 2006 Fattoria Poggiopiano Rosso di Sera is one of the great pleasures of wine. This is a superb, supple, head-of-the-class Sangiovese from a serious, 17 hectare, family-owned winery. Pogggiopiano's hillside vineyards in San Casciano Val di Pesa , just south of Florence, has seven 90+ wines from Parker since the '97 vintage and eight 90+ from Wine Spectator since '96. 2006 Rosso di Sera is 94 points from Parker and that only begins to tell the tale. Deep, dark-as-ink purple colored, the power of its structure is hinted at in the nose of super-concentrated blackberry with pencil shavings dustiness. On palate the Sangiovese fruit from the 96 point rated 2006 vintage explodes with richness. Neutral oak does its part for tannic backbone and cellaring will bring this Super Tuscan to stunning heights. But a great such as this from an all-time vintage is at heart all about the fruit. This opulent powerhouse shows ripe yet fresh black fruit complexity with firm yet ultimately silky tannins. As the wine spends time in the glass the back palate opens up in stupendously delicious fashion. 2006 Poggiopiano Rosso di Sera rivals, indeed surpasses, many from Tuscany priced well over $100 a bottle. Our price of $65.99 for this supple stunner is below its release price. This is a great wine from an outstanding vintage. Tuscany has never been more Super.

Tasting Notes: I was quite taken with Poggiopiano’s 2006 Rosso di Sera, (90% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino). This opaque, full-bodied red flows with masses of super-ripe dark fruit layered with scents of new leather, graphite and French oak. The wine possesses superb density and richness in a full-bodied, intense style. The tannins from the oak remain rather firm and unyielding at this stage, but in a few years’ time the 2006 Rosso di Sera should begin strutting its stuff. The long, polished finish is that of a first-class wine. This is a remarkable effort from Poggiopiano. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.