Liberta Toscana Collazzi 2008; Super Tuscan

With nearly 1 Million registered vineyards and a long tradition of wine making going back nearly 4,000 years, Italy is one of the largest consumers of wine, one of the largest exporters, and the 2^nd largest producer in the world at nearly 1.3 billion gallons each year. An amazing accomplishment for a country only slightly larger in land mass than the U.S. state of Arizona! Thinking of wine as food, being part of nearly every meal, it should be no surprise that the Italians have mastered the creation of wine with some of the greatest natural affinity for food in the world.

The 2008 Liberta Toscana Collazzi is a Super Tuscan blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Syrah, and 25% Sangiovese, lending a new world style to an old world terrior. This is a great red table wine with the plump dark fruit and chocolate character you would expect in a Merlot, complimented with French oak, dusty berry, black cherry notes, and a mild tobacco finish. Add to that a rustic Italian personality and a velvety soft mouth feel, and we have something fun to talk about!

With a consistent 88 point rating by both Robert Parker and Wine Spectator, this is a very nice Super Tuscan available for $20 to $25. I recommend this wine to “drink now” while the fruit is fresh and vibrant, as opposed to laying it down.