2020 Avignonesi Grifi (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Located in Italy’s first and oldest red wine appellation near the medieval town of Montepulciano, Avignonesi produces exceptional, terroir expressive Tuscan wines ranging from thrilling 100% Sangiovese selections as well as highly rated Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from meticulously managed, sustainably farmed vineyards, all superb values priced well below the red wines of neighboring regions perfect for mixing a case.

Purchasing the historic Avignonesi winery in 2009, energetic owner Virginie Saverys began transforming the estate vineyards under the direction of renowned agronomer Adriano Zago, fully converting to sustainable viticulture while expanding the estate’s holdings to 175 hectares over the next decade and becoming the largest biodynamic certified winery in Italy. Planted in sedimentary soils of calcareous limestone, clay and sand, the rolling vineyards are situated at altitudes ranging up to 375 meters above sea level, the qualities of each parcel identified through an extensive geographic study with each parcel vinified separately in Avignonesi’s state-of-the-art cellars. Crafted from 100% Sangiovese, the entry level 91 pt. 2020 Avignonesi Rosso offers fresh juicy red fruit that’s “vivid and delicious” according to James Suckling, aged for 6 months in oak barrels to yield soft tannins on a smooth, balanced finish. Crafting their Vino Nobile from 100% Sangiovese despite the minimum requirement of 70% adhered to by many wineries in the region, the enticing 92 pt. 2019 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano offers bright fruit balanced by vibrant acidity on a silky, saline-tinged finish, while the single vineyard 94 pt. 2018 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Poggetto di Sopra is sourced from 40-year-old Sangiovese vines and aged for 24 months in oak barrels and tonneaux yielding elegant spiced dark fruit with silky tannins, both Vino Nobiles promising to evolve for another decade. Crafting two distinct cuvees from international varietals, the 93 pt. 2019 Avignonesi Grifi is a 50-50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 months in French oak barriques and large Slavonian oak casks, revealing rich dark fruit hinting of graphite with robust tannins while the 100% Merlot 93 pt. 2019 Avignonesi Desiderio offers juicy rich fruit with silky, refined tannins, both from an outstanding 2019 vintage according to Decanter’s Michaela Morris that promises “loads of enjoyment over the next seven to ten years.”

Offering a range of exceptional vineyard-driven wines that overdeliver value, Eric Guido of Vinous declared “for a lesson on Montepulciano’s terroir, one needs to look no further than Avignonesi,” these enticing selections promising to transport fans of Tuscan wines to the rolling hills of Montepulciano at a bargain price whenever a cork is pulled.

93WS

93JS

An elegant red, featuring a gleam of pure cherry, currant and strawberry fruit. This is also intense and firmly built, with a layer of dense tannins guarding the finish. Excellent length. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2037. 3,347 cases made, 1,667 cases imported.

93 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Feb 2024)

Excellent purity and ripeness to the fruit-expressive nose, but this still has some complexity to offer, too. Some violets, graphite and spices to the fresh blue fruit and slate. I like the texture here on the palate with fresh, fine-grained tannins and a cooling finish. Long, fresh and juicy. From biodynamically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.

93 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Sep 2023)

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$19.98

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