Type : Red Wine Vintage : 2000 Size : 1.5L Rating : WA 92 pts / WS 93 pts Producer : Ruffino Region : Tuscany But to my taste the most captivating wine on Ruffino’s formidable list is Romitorio di Santedame, conceived with the 1991 vintage from a unique combination of ancient Tuscan varieties: Colorino and Prugnolo Gentile. Colorino, whose name comes from colouring components in the skins, was historically used to darken Chianti, sometimes in the governo where dried grapes were added to the wine to induce a second fermentation. Prugnolo, a strain of sangiovese, was found growing in the vineyard’s of Ruffino’s Santadame estate near Castellina in Chianti. Being precocious, they were planted on cool slopes facing north to ripen slowly and favour the elements that account for the extraordinary aromas. Together they make a wine that qualifies as the most original Super-Tuscan of the 1990s and decidedly one of the best, with an inimitable way of melding power with finesse. Romitorio is 60% colorino, 40% prugnolo gentile handpicked between October 10 and 15. WA : The most important wine in the line is the 2000 Romitorio, made at the firm’s Santedame estate in Chianti Classico and an innovative blend of Sangiovese and Colorino. The latter grape, which resembles Petit Verdot in its richness in coloring material and tannins, works very well with Sangiovese, giving a very dark and deep colored wine, potent and alcoholic on the nose with notes of roasted fruit, ink, minerals, and scorched tar and intense, powerful flavors. It is slightly tannic at the moment but packed and layered, sweet in its fruit, mouth-filling and solid in its texture. Drink: 2006-2018. WS : A fantastic, honest Tuscan red. Excellent, with blackberry, mineral and licorice character. Full-bodied, with integrated fruit and very polished tannins. Very long.