Le Difese 2013 75cl

Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese make up the 2013 Le Difese. The wine opens to a garnet hue and medium consistency. It's easy-drinking style is reinforced by bright berry flavors of blueberry and cassis followed by sour cherry and cranberry. This vintage is slightly thornier and more acidic than the warmer vintages that precede it. It also shows an extra touch of elegance and persistency. The wine is silky and tight on the close with a long sense of berry freshness that keeps it alive on the palate. When Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi made a state visit to Washington, D.C. this past April, he packed a few bottles for the trip. He selected four wines to share with President Barack Obama. According to media reports they were Sassicaia (the 2011 vintage), Ornellaia, Tignanello and a Brunello di Montalcino by Mastrojanni. The statesmen sampled the wines together and President Obama joked that it would be “insulting” not to taste them. During a press conference, he turned to Renzi and smiled: “I will give you, Matteo, a report on whether it is up to the quality we expect.” Born in Florence, Prime Minister Renzi made a sound selection of wines from his native Tuscany to share with the American president. Of these wines, none is more iconic than Sassicaia. Roughly one month prior to the White House wine summit, I was in Bolgheri at Tenuta San Guido to taste a few older vintages of Sassicaia including the 1982 and 1998. I was also able to taste preview samples of the excellent 2013 vintage and the challenging 2014 vintage.