The 2013 Tenuta di Biserno is dark, pliant and seductive. Black cherry, plum, menthol, chocolate, licorice, spice and lavender infuse this supple, open-knit Maremma from Lodovico Antinori. In 2013, the Tenuta is a bit softer and more medium in body than I expected given the style and personality of the year. d here is The Tenuta is a Cabernet Franc-based wine with dollops of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

Aromas of blackcurrants and hints of cassis bush. Some basil, too. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Dense and delicious. Better in 2019 but a pretty polish to this.

Of these recent vintages, the 2013 Biserno is among the most emboldened and contemporary of the bunch. This all-Tuscan blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot is very succulent and rich in texture with a flavor profile that veers toward sweet chocolate and savory tobacco with ripe blackberry and dried cherry. One of the most spectacular characteristics of the Biserno vineyard is the downward slant in which the vines extend to the Tyrrhenian Sea. That subtle angle means the sea acts like a mirror, reflecting luminosity back at the grape vines. I believe this is the magic touch that distinguishes this site and which results in the spot-on fruit ripeness you taste here with such intensity and delicious abundance. ML

Conditions were ideal in 2013: a not-too-hot summer with some rain in August gave the vines a boost, and a fine September prolonged ripening. The result is a wonderfully enticing, bright cassis nose, with flavours of red berries and violet underpinned with warm, seductive, sweet spice, cream, vanilla, dark chocolate and woodsmoke. The palate needs time to fully harmonise, but there is already a gently elegant texture balanced with very finely textured, silty tannins and a brilliantly taut structure. Not revealing its full beauty yet.
Tasted by: Susan Hulme MW (at Tenuta di Biserno, 25 Nov 2017)
Part of Tenuta di Biserno wines tasted and rated

The deep well of black currant, blackberry, spice and wild herb aromas draw you in, while the pure fruit, supple texture and fine structure hold your attention. Balanced and long. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2026.