Braccesca Merlot
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 3 to 8 years from the vintage, when its lush fruit profile and supple tannins are at their most expressive.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted rosemary lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto, and medium-aged cheeses like Pecorino Toscano.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Tracing its winemaking heritage back to 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Winemakers' Guild, Marchesi Antinori has been shaped by twenty-six generations of family leadership. Headquartered in the heart of Chianti Classico, the family has expanded its portfolio across prestigious estates in Tuscany, Umbria, and beyond, driven by a philosophy that balances deep historical respect with bold innovation. Antinori famously pioneered the "Super Tuscan" movement in the 1970s, introducing revolutionary French oak aging and international varieties to create iconic labels like Tignanello and Solaia. Today, their diverse portfolio spans from the elegant Sangiovese of Badia a Passignano to the acclaimed white blend Cervaro della Sala, cementing their legacy as global ambassadors of Italian fine wine.