2012 Baffonero
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Tasting notes
Rocca di Frassinello set out to make one of the great Merlots of Tuscany and the result is this excellent wine. The 2012 Maremma Toscana Baffonero shows all the hallmarks of great winemaking and careful fruit selection. If you are looking for a purely hedonistic Italian red, this one most certainly fits the bill although I'm not sure how much wiggle room there is for top shelf Merlot beyond the venerable Masseto. Baffonero exhibits seamless integration with a ripe palate of cherry and blackberry flavors. It reaches a beautiful level of richness that is backed by rich extraction and soft tannins. The wine will cellar for ten years or more.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Baffonero, the estate's 100% Merlot, is rich and explosive in the glass. Dark red and black stone fruits, mocha, lavender and Mediterranean herbs struggle to emerge in the glass. Today, the Baffonero offers good overall balance and persistence, but not quite the pedigree to which it aspires.