An exceptionally rare, mature Super Tuscan of remarkable concentration and complexity, produced in just 270 numbered bottles and released only after ten years of barrel and bottle maturation.

🥂 Tasting Notes

Appearance deep ruby at the core, evolving towards garnet and brick-red at the rim. The colour immediately reveals the wine's maturity while retaining impressive concentration.

Aroma intense, mature and multi-layered. Black cherry, blackberry and plum are joined by dried dark fruits before developing into cedar, tobacco, leather and sweet spices. Extended aeration reveals more tertiary nuances of cocoa, roasted coffee, balsamic herbs, forest floor and subtle earthy notes. The long French-oak maturation is evident but now beautifully integrated into the wine's mature aromatic profile.

Palate full-bodied, concentrated and powerful, yet remarkably composed after more than a decade of evolution. Dark cherry, plum and blackberry are framed by mature, polished tannins. Tobacco, cedar, cocoa and coffee provide depth, while balsamic herbs and earthy notes add savoury complexity. Despite its richness, sufficient acidity remains to provide freshness and definition. 

Finish exceptionally long and complex, moving from dark fruit and spice towards tobacco, cocoa, cedar and balsamic nuances. The texture is rich and persistent, with mature tannins providing a refined, savoury conclusion.

Ageing Potential the 2012 is fully mature but built for longevity. Given its extraordinary 36 months in French oak followed by a minimum of seven years in bottle before release, well-stored bottles can continue developing for many years. I would consider 2026–2036+ an excellent drinking window, with individual bottles potentially lasting longer. For drinking now, decant carefully for approximately 45–60 minutes, watching for sediment and checking its evolution in the glass.

🍽️ Food Pairing (Gastronomic Level)

• Bistecca alla Fiorentina – perhaps the quintessential pairing for such a powerful Tuscan red.
• Grilled rib-eye or T-bone – the richness of the meat matches the wine's concentration and mature tannins.
• Slow-braised beef cheeks – complements its dark fruit and savoury tertiary complexity.
• Roast lamb with rosemary – beautifully echoes the wine's balsamic and Mediterranean-herb nuances.
• Wild boar ragù with pappardelle – a classic Tuscan combination.
• Venison – particularly suitable for the mature fruit, earthy character and substantial structure.
• Porcini mushrooms or truffle dishes – highlight its forest-floor and tertiary characteristics.
• Pecorino Toscano stagionato or Parmigiano Reggiano – excellent choices for enjoying the wine slowly after dinner.

Serving Temperature

16–18°C

Technical Notes

• Designation: Toscana IGT
• Producer: La Casa di Bricciano
• Location: Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany
• Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
• Vineyards: Estate vineyards at approximately 550 metres altitude
• Viticulture: Certified organic
• Ageing: 36 months in French oak barriques
• Bottle ageing: Minimum 7 years before release
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Production: Only 270 individually numbered bottles – one single barrique

Takeaway

The Lord 2012 is not simply the top wine of La Casa di Bricciano; it is a genuine collector's cuvée. Only 270 numbered bottles were produced from a single barrique, followed by three years in French oak and at least seven years in bottle. Now mature, it combines powerful dark fruit with tobacco, cedar, cocoa, leather and balsamic complexity—a rare, long-lived expression of this tiny organic estate in Gaiole in Chianti.