Alauda

Pairs well with savory dishes such as Bistecca Fiorentina, Tortelli with duck sauce, Risotto with sausage and lamb shoulder as well as rich aged or peppered cheeses.

This Super Tuscan wine represents the pinnacle of Ruffino's artisan approach to winemaking. Alauda, which means 'skylark' in Italian is only made in exceptional vintage years and is a contemporary expression of Tuscany that showcases the unique terroir of Ruffino's Poggio Casciano and Montemasso estate vineyards. Alauda is a unique wine because Cabernet Franc is the heart of the blend, an unusual choice in Tuscany where Sangiovese is considered the signature grape. The decision to choose Cabernet Franc was a personal one for winemaker Gabriel Tacconi, who wanted to showcase how this delicate varietal expresses itself in a distinct and elegant way at our Poggio Casciano estate in the Tuscan hills outside Florence. The Cabernet Franc comes from a number of Loire Valley clones that were planted in carefully selected areas. It is carefully blended with Merlot to give the wine softness and structure. And, with a nod to tradition, the rare native Tuscan varietal Colorino is used to round out the blend.

All grapes are hand harvested from very low yielding vines, and undergo an additional hand selection process at the winery to ensure only the finest grapes are chosen for this special wine. The grapes are then fermented in separate stainless steel tanks, one for each varietal. Alauda requires an extended maceration period to fully extract the desired depth of flavor and color. The grapes are then racked and transferred to oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, undergoing battonage twice a week for three months before blending. The final blend is then aged in a mix of new and second-use French barriques for 24 months. The wine is then racked a final time, spending an additional 4 months in stainless steel tanks for finesse before it is fined and bottled. The bottled wine is aged for 6 months before release.