Braccesca Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rosemary lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto, and medium-aged cheeses like Pecorino Toscano.
✨ Technical Specifications
La Braccesca, an estate acquired by the historic Antinori family in 1990, spans a unique terroir divided between the historic appellations of Montepulciano and Cortona. The estate's name and coat of arms—an armored arm holding a sword—pay homage to the historic Count of Bracci. While Montepulciano is celebrated for its Sangiovese, the clay-rich soils and warm microclimate of the Cortona zone of the estate provide an exceptional home for international varieties, particularly Merlot. This wine represents a harmonious marriage of Tuscan elegance and the plush, velvety nature of the Merlot grape. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel and aged carefully in French oak barriques, it delivers a rich profile of dark plums, blackberries, and subtle sweet spices, reflecting the sun-drenched hillsides of eastern Tuscany.
🍾 About the Producer
Tracing its winemaking heritage back to 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Guild of Florentine Winemakers, Marchesi Antinori stands as one of the world's most enduring and influential wine dynasties. For more than twenty-six generations, the family has balanced deep reverence for Tuscan tradition with bold, pioneering innovation, most notably catalyzing the Super Tuscan revolution in the late 20th century. Based at their architecturally stunning headquarters in San Casciano in Val di Pesa, the estate oversees prestigious properties across Tuscany, Umbria, and beyond, with viticulture dedicated to capturing the distinct soul of each terroir. Today, led by Marchese Piero Antinori alongside his daughters Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia, the house produces iconic masterpieces including the legendary Sangiovese-Cabernet blend Tignanello, the opulent Solaia, and the benchmark Italian white Cervaro della Sala.