4.2 Vivino Stars (325+ Stars)

Col d’Orcia’s 2014 Olmaia is a perfect representation of this winery’s incredible potential. A favorite among the critics, it received 94 points from Wine Spectator and 93 points from Vinous. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate called it “a beautifully textured and fleshed out red” in which “we are treated to a taste of the superstar variety Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the most celebrated growing sites in sunny Tuscany.” Indeed, if you are looking for the best Cab Italy’s most classic wine region has to offer, this is the wine for you.

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine has it all: an elegant, aromatic nose, a balanced texture, fine, ripe tannins, and a long, succulent finish. Eighteen months aging in oak barrels (95% medium-toasted French and 5% American) adds a hint of spicy vanilla that provides a beautiful frame for the wine’s plush red and black berry fruits.

Founded in the late 1800s by the Franceschi family of Florence, the property was a huge success early on, and has only flourished with time. Now owned by the Cinzano family of Piedmont, Col d’Orcia is a leader in the region, taking advantage of the estate’s exquisite terroir (sun-drenched and south-facing, with free-draining soils and free of fog or frost), to produce some of the very finest Brunello and Super-Tuscan wines. It is also a breathtakingly beautiful property, and was recognized as such in 2004 when UNESCO declared it an “aesthetically pleasing. . . icon of the landscape.”