One bottle of San Giusto a Rentennano Percarlo, 1994 vintage; Vino da Tavola, Tuscany/Italy; Fill level: into neck
One bottle of Castello Banfi Excelsus, 1995 vintage; Toscana IGT, Tuscany/Italy; Fill level: into neck; Wine Spectator (1998): 87/100
One bottle of Barone Ricasoli Casalferro, 1997 vintage; Toscana IGT, Tuscany/Italy; Fill level: top shoulder; Wine Spectator (2007): 94/100
Four bottles of Castello di Verrazzano Sassello, 1997 vintage; Toscana IGT, Tuscany/Italy; Fill level: into neck; Wine Spectator (1999): 92/100
Five bottles of Tenimente Luigi d’Alessandro Syrah Podere Il Bosco, 1997 vintage; Toscana IGT, Tuscany/Italy; Fill level: into neck; Wine Spectator (2007): 96/100
Original filling quantity: 0.75 l

This lot comprises twelve bottles of red wine from Tuscany: one bottle of 1994 vintage San Giusto a Rentennano Percarlo, one bottle of 1995 vintage Castello Banfi Excelsus, one bottle 1997 vintage Barone Ricasoli Casalferro, four bottles of 1997 vintage Castello di Verrazzano Sassello and five bottles of 1997 vintage Tenimente Luigi d’Alessandro Syrah Podere Il Bosco.

Vino da Tavola, table wine, originally means that the grapes used to make the wine were grown in an Italian wine-growing region and the exact origin does not need to be declared. It is actually a lower quality category. However some of the finest Italian growths often reveal themselves from behind the Vino da Tavola label. Many top growers, including those of Super Tuscans, use the Vino da Tavola label to circumvent the DOCG and DOC system production regulations for wine to implement innovative ideas for preparing wine.

Toscana IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is a wine quality closely tied to its origin. It simply describes a wine whose grapes were grown in a Tuscan wine region. Since 2009, this is also labeled IGP. The term can also signify top, highly-prized Tuscan wines, similar to Vini da Tavola, if a producer wants to interpret the wine authorities’ guidelines more freely.

In 1994 the weather in Tuscany was cool and dry during the harvest and the wines produced in that year are among the best of the decade with good structure. 1995 was also a good vintage leading to the creation of some great wines, the best of which are now at their peak, albeit in small numbers. In 1997 the summer in Tuscany was extremely hot, the quality is rather inconsistent but some wines are quite extraordinary.

The 1997 vintage Casalferro was rated 94 points by James Suckling on Wine Spectator’s website in 2007. Suckling rated the 1997 vintage Podere Il Bosco 96 points in the same year and scored the 1997 vintage Sassello at 92 points in 1999.

The fill levels are mostly excellent (into neck), one bottle has a lower fill level (top shoulder). Some labels are very slightly damaged. The capsules are in perfect condition.