Generally I don’t really drink many IGT wines from Italy (and I will get into why a bit later), but I have collected some along the way and thought it would be nice to try a few together to get a sense of what they have to offer in relation to wines from specified zones like D.O.C or D.O.C.G.  Tuscany is probably the leading region in Italy for IGT (Indicazione Geographica Tipica) wines.  Sometimes they are referred to as “Super Tuscans” though Super Tuscans tend to refer to the top end wines in the IGT Toscana category.  The IGT category of wine was created to bring some definition to the Super Tuscan wines, which did not fall into D.O.C. or D.O.C.G. status due to their use of international grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.  This put them in contrast to classic specified D.O.C. and D.O.C.G. regions like Chianti Classic, Brunello, etc.

Super Tuscan wines have generated love, scorn, hype, high critic’s scores, and high prices since their inception.  Love them or hate them, they are here to stay, and I have generally avoided them as I am wont to experience the magic that makes Brunello or Chianti or Montepulciano, etc. what they are and not have it mucked up with international varieties.  Super Tuscans have been an affront to the classic wines in some ways, where some producers have abandoned the wines of the past for the modern, the Super Tuscan.  I prefer it when the Super Tuscan can live along side the more classic wines.  So it is interesting to have a look at three IGT/Super Tuscan wines side by side and see what they have to offer.  I can actually say that out of these wines, two of them exhibited a great Tuscan/Italian character.  Only the Le Votle from Ornellia came up short, or should I say lacking a distinctive Tuscan or Italian character.  I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Cerbaiona and Trinoro offerings, they both had a great Tuscan/Italian character and were a pleasure to drink.  So what does that all mean.  Well it means that if you want true character I would say stick with your Chianti’s and Brunello’s, etc.  And preferably from the more traditional producers.  But that said, I really like the Cerbainoa and Trinoro IGT wines.  I guess you can’t always be a hater.