Beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2009 Lupicaia is a standout. Sweet red cherries, flowers, mint, anise, savory herbs and spices all ring out in a supple, gracious wine loaded with class. The 2009 needs a few years for some of the contours to soften, but it is a gorgeous wine with tons of personality. This is a decidedly round, sexy Lupicaia that is going to offer plenty of enjoyment over the course of the next fifteen years or so.

Rich aromas of blackberries and red chili pepper. Full body, with polished tannins and lightly chewy. Long finish. Name changed from Tenuta del Terriccio.

The balsamic notes are really starting to open up here in the 2009 Lupicaia. This wine has begun to come of age. This was a slightly cooler growing season, and this wine shows little of the ripe, fruit-forwardness that marked many of the following vintages. There is a velvety side to this Lupicaia, with more textural looseness and openness in general. ML