Lodovico 2008 300cl

The 2008 Lodovico is a blend of mostly Cabernet Franc with Merlot and some Petit Verdot. Layers of espresso, mocha, blackberry jam and spices take shape in the glass. The 2008 shows remarkable depth and polish all the way through to the finish. The Lodovico is another big, persistent wine endowed with tons of Maremma warmth and personality. These vines are just 6-7 years old. The potential for the future seems very, very bright. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028. Marchese Lodovico Antinori is one of the most interesting figures in the history of the wines of Maremma. In the early 1980s, Antinori founded Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, which quickly established itself as one of Italy’s great estates before Antinori was forced to sell the property a decade ago. Antinori’s cousin, Nicolo Incisa della Rochetta, made Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia an icon. And of course, Antinori’s brother Marchese Piero Antinori runs the family business out of Florence. But Lodovico Antinori seems to march to the beat of his own drum. He remains deeply linked to his family, but also equally eager to carve out his own reputation. Antinori’s latest project is composed of three separate estates in Maremma, which I have listed separately to avoid the confusion that has surrounded these properties in the past. Stylistically, Lodovico Antinori’s wines lie in a middle ground between the approach at San Guido, which favors earlier harvests and a more classic sense of structure, and the riper, more opulent expression of Bolgheri found at Ornellaia.

Though rich, this red is elegant and harmonious, featuring flavors of black currant, cherry, cedar, graphite and spice. A supple and polished wine, with a beam of fruit persisting through the finish. Best from 2014 through 2024. 32 cases imported.