The Specially Selected Toscana Rosso 2021 is a red, 14% alcohol, wine that’s medium to full-bodied. Its origins are somewhat shrouded in mystery, with the bottle labels being coy about the wine producer. Despite the lack of provenance, there’s a clue of its origin on the back label – a mention of bottled for Buontalenti Srl, which matches the collaborative effort of small growers and expert winemakers mentioned on the front label.
The blend, though again not explicitly stated, is likely a classic Super Tuscan trio: Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. There’s a resemblance to Terre del Buontalenti from Majestic, albeit the Toscana Rosso comes at 2/3 of price.
There has been hype that this wine is a copy of the famous Tignanello, ‘The Tig’, a cherished favourite of Meghan Markle with a hefty £150 tag. This wine has also recently been featured on the UK’s Saturday Kitchen TV programme. It was also scored 90 by Decanter in the December 2023 issue.
The palate is greeted with a pleasant mix of red cherry and plum with a hint of spice. However, despite comparisons to ‘The Tig’, the Toscana Rosso’s performance falls a bit short of the hype. While it’s a commendable wine, it’s a bit too tannic for my personal taste.
At a price of £9.99 from Aldi, the Toscana Rosso does offer a taste of Tuscany’s charm. Ignoring the hype, it’s a decent wine for those looking to explore a Super Tuscan blend without the Super Tuscan price.
