Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of 
A Taste of Tuscany: Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi
By Kori ~ January 26th, 2010.
The Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi is one of the most famous wine producers in Italy. Located in Tuscany and comprised of nine estates, the Frescobaldi family has been making wine for over 700 years, spanning 30 generations. They operate 1,000 hectares of vineyards which are divided into nine properties throughout the Chianti region of Tuscany.
The family’s history in the wine industry started around 1300 when Berto de’ Frescobaldi left his properties to his children which included houses, mills, vineyards, orchards, farms, and other various properties. The wine produced on those properties was exported to Flanders and England. During the next 700 years, their wine business grew and flourished. Frescobaldi wines have received numerous accolades from wine publications. Today, many family members continue to be actively involved in the winery.
We recently had the opportunity to taste two Frescobaldi wines in a samples tasting, the 2006 Nipozzano Riserva and the 2008 Remole. These wines represent two of the brands within the extensive Frescobaldi portfolio.
With QPR ratings of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5), both of these wines are excellent values that are worth a try if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop. I look forward to trying them both again, this time with food. I think they would be great with pasta dishes or beef stew.
2006 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva (Chianti Rufina DOCG Riserva, Italy): 90% Sangiovese and complementary grapes (Malvasia Nera, Colorino, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon). Ruby red in color and very aromatic. Red Vines, fresh red fruit, and cinnamon come through on the nose; more red fruit, leather, and black plum on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced and smooth.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $19; Available elsewhere, $17 to $31
2008 Frescobaldi Remole (Toscana IGT, Italy): 85% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ruby red in color. Nose is a bit tight at first, then floral and popcorn aromas come through. Red fruit flavors dominate. Medium-bodied and smooth with soft tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Fine Wine House (California), $11.98
Filed under: Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Italian Wine, Red Wine, Sangiovese, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25
It looks like you’ve been looking at some varietals with a smaller mix of Cab Sauv. Might I suggest a Sauv itself? Out of all the world’s wines, Cabernet Sauvignon is king, and it seems as though these days Napa and Sonoma wines are very “in†(I represent Ghost Pines, and our Napa/Sonoma mix Cab is a bestselling varietal). The sweet aromas, superb dark fruit, and ripe, chewy tannins allow wine lovers to find real personality in the wine – I find Cab to be the most consistently rewarding of the Bordeaux varieties, personally, especially when paired with the appropriate meal.
Ghost Pines,
Thanks for commenting. While this particular post featured wines that were Sangiovese-based, we drink and write about Cabernet Sauvignon often. You might find some of our Cab posts interesting: http://winepeeps.com/category/cabernet-sauvignon/. Cheers!
Kori,
Couldn’t agree with you more about the Frescobaldi wines. My wife and I had the pure pleasure of drinking both of these wines, as well as many more, on a trip to Tuscany. The only difference…there, in Italy for Italy, they don’t add sulfites to their wines. The Nipozzano Riserva can be enjoyed on it’s own, however our Italian friends truly appreciated it when we brought it to dinner.
John,
Glad to hear you enjoyed the Frescobaldi wines. I’d love to visit Tuscany myself someday. As for sulfites though, I’ve spoken to winemakers in other foreign countries and asked that very question about whether or not they add sulfites to wines being exported to the U.S. They all said that the wine is all made the same whether it will be consumed in their home country or exported, they just have to add “Contains Sulfites” to the label to meet U.S. labeling requirements. All wines contain naturally-occurring sulfites. Since I haven’t been to Italy myself, I don’t know for sure if that is the case there but suspect it probably is. Cheers!