A difficult blind tasting. 🍷

Piaggia Poggio de’ Colli Cabernet Franc Toscana IGT 2020

What a delicious yet confusing wine!

I was firmly in the Super Tuscan zone, but the grape variety kept throwing me off. With 14.5% alcohol, my first thought was Cabernet Sauvignon. But there was no cassis, and the tannins were only medium with an incredibly silky texture. That didn’t quite fit.

Then I wondered if it was a Merlot-dominant blend. The plush mouthfeel certainly pointed in that direction, but the wine had a subtle herbal freshness and hints of mint that Merlot rarely shows. Still, it lacked the classic bell pepper note I usually associate with Cabernet Franc, so the idea barely crossed my mind until the very last minute.

In the glass, it showed:

• Deep ruby.
• Aromas of red and black cherries, white pepper, licorice, and sweet cocoa, with delicate herbal and minty nuances.
• Full-bodied with beautifully integrated 14.5% alcohol, vibrant acidity, and remarkably silky tannins.
• A long, elegant finish that suggests excellent aging potential, while already being incredibly enjoyable today.

Paired with the Bolognese at Sotto Le Stelle, it was absolutely delicious.

This is a great reminder that warm-climate Cabernet Franc can look very different from its Loire counterparts. Less bell pepper, more ripe fruit, softer tannins, and yet it still retains that distinctive herbal lift.

Thanks, Greg, for bringing this bottle back from Italy and making us work for the answer. Blind tastings like this are the most rewarding—they challenge assumptions and remind us that great wines don’t always fit neatly into the textbook.