Maestro Sanguineti Nessun Dorma Super Tuscan 2012: Very smooth, approachable Super Tuscan blend—50% sangiovese, 30% merlot, 20% syrah. Drinks almost like a fruity California red; ripe cherry, strawberry, red fruits galore, some blackberry, too; fresh, bright, medium tannin and acidity. This clearly is not a smack-you-in-the-face brute that some Super Tuscans can be (thanks to absence of cab); the syrah struggles to add heft and complexity to the mild-mannered sangiovese and merlot. Super Tuscan wines are product of 1970s revolt by some Chianti makers who bridled under prohibitions against using cab, merlot, and syrah in their blended wines. Super Tuscan term not only had macho appeal, it set their wine apart from lower-quality Chianti table wines dominating Chianti bottlings back then. Super Tuscans found their audience, and Chianti makers stepped up, too, making for better times for wine drinkers ever since. Winemaker Antonio Sangineti named this after his favorite favorite Pucinni aria (“Non Shall Sleep”), a staple of Luciano Pavarotti (and The Three Tenors) concerts. This sings well too, but you should be able to sleep after sipping. $20
