Frescobaldi - Tenuta Castelgiocondo : Lamaione 2014

Oodles of sweet, ripe black cherry, plum and vanilla flavors mark this lush red that's young, showing mostly oak detail on the finish, with a soft profile. Drink now through 2023. 1,200 cases made, 30 cases imported.

This is a pure expression of Merlot from the Frescobaldi estate in Montalcino that has been in production since 1991. The early-ripening French variety had a little trouble in this cold and wet vintage. Grapes that ripened later in the autumn season were able to take advantage of a late-season heat spike. However, the 2014 Lamaione Tenuta Castelgiocondo shows juicy characteristics of the grape with cherry and fresh blackberry. This is a mid-weight wine with good density but is perhaps a little shorter in terms of persistence in this vintage.