The Treasure




~ Benvenuto a Radda ~

Not long ago,  I chronicled my jaunt along the dusty "Strada Bianca" on my journey to visit the charming town of Radda. Along that bumpy road,  I enjoyed an impromptu stop at the Terrabianca winery and tasting room.  Today's article spotlights one of the wines I carried home from that visit. 

 

Terrabianca sits alongside the SP 102 - The Strada Provinciale di Vagliagli - that leads directly from Vagliagli to Radda.  It's a winding, hilly, somewhat circuitous journey that I would happily drive again and again.  Perched on a knoll, across from some of the most gorgeous vineyards you'll find, Terrabianca is midway on the drive and the perfect reason to delay your arrival in Radda.



~ The Entrance to the Terrabianca Winery & Tasting Room ~

Tesoro is Italian for "Treasure" and today's wine surely is.  I love Tuscan Merlot.  I always seem to find the wines with an incredible balance of ripe silky fruit and the herbs and brush that are so prominent alongside the vineyards where these grapes grow.  Terrabianca's Tesoro is no exception.



~ Vineyards of Terrabianca ~

The 2009 Tesoro is a wonderful wine and a deep violet color clear from the center of the bowl to the rim.  We did not decant the wine, but opened it well in advance of dinner to let it slowly breathe.  The aromas are uniquely Tuscan and feature deep, ripe black fruit notes that are further punctuated by rosemary, cypress scrub, and newly rubbed leather.  On the palate, the wine is forward and silky with delicious flavors of black fruit, underbrush, rosemary, and dark chocolate that are all woven in a dusty, flinty package.  Merlot, with an Italian accent.  92 points.  I think I purchased this at the estate for 28 Euro and while it can easily be found inside Italy and the EU, it is not imported to the US. 



~ Tesoro is 100% Pure Merlot from the Radda area of Chianti Classico ~

The wine was paired with a perfect Tuscan peasant dish of braised sausages and beans with garden fresh sage.  The acidity in the wine stood up well to the tomato and the sage really played to the herbal notes in the wine.  This dish will be a featured recipe coming shortly - but a quick look today....



~ Braised Sausages with White Beans & Sage ~



~ Ciao Ciao Radda! ~

Allora........