JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  8/13/2015 (link)

  (Scalette, Il Carbonaione IGT Alta Valle della Greve Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Antonio Galloni
  Tuscany 2006 and 2007: A New Golden Age (Aug 2009) (link)

  (Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Antonio Galloni
  Poggio Scalette: Il Carbonaione 1992-2007 (Jul 2008) (link)

  (Poggio Scalette Scalette Il Carbonaione) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  9/10/2010 (link)

  (IL CARBONAIONE) Il Carbonaione Dear Friends, I'm about to get on a soapbox but today’s wine encourages a politely spewed wrath from yours truly. Considering the price of new-release vintages of Solaia, Ornellaia, et al, I'm sure a large number of you will peg today’s offer as our finest deal of 2010 – especially as this wine is every bit as serious as both of the above (maybe more so?) With that... The 2006 Il Carbonaione is a formidable and established Tuscan wine that makes me question the ever-rising tariff of nearly every top-tier IGT in Tuscany. Merlot? Cabernet? Sangiovese? All have begun to lean on Bordeaux for inspiration (from a pricing standpoint) and that is not a good thing for consumers. Why is $200-250 Solaia acceptable? Today’s offer brings relief from the nonsense. I’ve sampled the 2006 Il Carbonaione twice (four months apart) and I'm tempted to call it the wine of the vintage in central Italy - certainly in the sub $40 category. It is so pent up with a multidimensional, carnivorous, mineral-drenched and tannic persona that it renders most of its upper-tier brethren in Tuscany as somewhat shallow by comparison. I’ve followed this winery since the 1992 vintage and there is no questing that the 2006 is an anomaly – a mysterious confluence of vintage, vineyard age and the exact right moment of picking that produced a massive but still terroir-reflective result. I thought my first encounter with this wine over the summer was a lucky bottle but the second bottle (opened a few days ago and still gaining) confirms that this is an uncanny Il Carbonaione with the muscle and directed nature of 2006 in spades. Unlike its 2007 brother, which is showier (just like the vintage), the 2006 is akin to a 1996 or 1986 Northern Medoc mixed with just enough 2009-like ripeness and extractive to push it over the edge into Tuscan infinity. If you are a collector with the means to stock up on this wine, the 2006 Il Carbonaione would be a very interesting candidate to open every few years over the next 20-30 to experience slow evolution first hand. My guess is that it will be one of the most admired wines of a stellar vintage – one that produced a bevy of exhilarating results. None more so than this: The 2006 Il Carbonaione is one of the finest wines I’ve tasted in 2010...especially for today’s offer price (I urge you to check community TN’s as well). As a side note – while built for the Old-World/long-haul enthusiast, the 2006 Il Carbonaione will also appeal to someone interested in mountain-inspired Cabernet from 2007 in Napa (in a good way, not in an an oak-juice/manipulated way). In addition, the wine has enough sweet fruit to make it an interesting cellar candidate for the 1974 Mayacamus meets Pride Reserve crowd. This parcel has impeccable provenance directly from the source: 2006 Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione - (compare at more...) FIRST COME FIRST SERVED at this price up to 36/person until we run out To order: niki@garagistewine.com This parcel is set to depart from Livorno – it will arrive in the late fall (please check OARS for local pick up after Dec 1st). It will ship at some point (probably not for holiday gifts, it will be too cold) but you’d be better off storing it here for several years anyway just to avoid the temptation... Out of state orders will be held for free under ideal storage conditions (56 degrees/70%humidity) until shipping is possible. Locals may pick up at their leisure. For current local pick up and arrival/ship information, please see your OARS link below (at the bottom of this offer) - don’t know how to access your OARS? Simply click the link and see your account. You can also paste the link into your browser. If you are having trouble with your link or your account, please contact: support@garagistewine.com NO SALES TO RETAILERS OR WHOLESALERS Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA