2024 Widmer, B.&B.(Brancaia) - Toscana Rosso IGT Tre

Brancaia traces back to 1981, when Swiss couple Bruno and Brigitte Widmer bought a rundown farmhouse and a handful of vines on the Brancaia hill near Castellina in Chianti. Their daughter Barbara Widmer, trained in oenology in Switzerland, has run the estate since 1998, and the family has since expanded to three organically farmed properties across Chianti Classico and the Maremma coast.

Tre takes its name from both its three grape varieties and the three Brancaia estates that supply it, blending Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from vineyards in Castellina, Radda, and the Maremma. The Chianti sites sit at higher elevation on stony, mixed soils, while the coastal Maremma vineyards grow on sandy, silt rich ground closer to sea level, giving the blend both structure and ripe fruit. The wine matures for about a year, roughly two thirds in French oak tonneaux and the rest in cement, then rests briefly in bottle before release.

The wine shows ruby red in the glass, with aromas of red fruit, spice, and a whisper of cocoa. On the palate it is juicy and full bodied, with soft tannins and a fresh finish. Pour it with roast veal, grilled white meats, or fresh mozzarella.