1998 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Sant'Antimo Fabius

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona has been in existence for more than a century, yet it is considered one of the rising stars of modern Italian winemaking. With 425 acres of vineyards in and around Castelnuovo dell’Abate, which is in southwest Montalcino, Tuscany, Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is run by Paolo Bianchini. Gambero Rosso, Italy’s leading wine journal, has written that the estate “continues to be one of the most representative of the entire area, successfully combining a distinctive winery style with the constant improvement of its wines.” Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that “no estate has managed to bridge the gap between classic and contemporary styles as gracefully as Ciacci…” The estate makes Brunello, and a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, and a Syrah.

Tuscany, or Toscana in Italian, is Italy’s best-known wine region and its most diverse. Historically Sangiovese was the primary grape grown in Tuscany and Chianti was considered the purest expression of Sangiovese. Sangiovese and its many clones are still important, and they are the grapes used for the Tuscan appellations of Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Chianti, Chianti Classico and Carmignano. But in the last 50 years innovative producers, many of them in southwestern Tuscany in the area called Maremma, have also planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The tradition defying producers have blended those varietals with Sangiovese to produce dazzling wines that do not conform to Italy’s appellation regulations. Such wines are called Super Tuscans and cannot be labeled with either of Italy’s highest level quality designations, which are in order of status Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantia, (DOCG), and Denominazione di Origine Controllata, (DOC). (This has not at all hindered the demand for Super Tuscans, some of which are consistently among the world’s most admired and well-reviewed wines.) Tuscany has six DOCG appellations and thirty-four DOCs. Though famous for its red wines, Tuscany also produces whites made primarily from Trebbiano and Vernaccia. There are also many Tuscan Indicazione Geographica Tipica (IGT) wines that are often an innovative blend of traditional and non-traditional grapes. This relatively new appellation status was started in 1992 as an attempt to give an official classification to Italy’s many newer blends that do fit the strict requirements of DOC and DOCG classifications. IGT wines may use the name of the region and varietal on their label or in their name.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.