Tasting Brancaia’s Il Blu

A vertical of the super Tuscan shows Merlot’s mettle

A portrait of Barbara Widmer in the barrel room
Barbara Widmer has been in charge of winemaking at Brancaia since 1998. (Vincenzo Cesareo)

In 1981, Zurich natives Bruno and Brigitte Widmer acquired the Brancaia estate as a vacation property for their family. Located in Castellina in Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region, the original 49 acres came with 10 acres of vineyards and abandoned winery. With the help of the Mazzei family at Fonterutoli and Francesco Ricasoli at Castello di Brolio, the couple started making wine. Read the story behind the wine, plus get senior editor Bruce Sanderson's scores and tasting notes from a retrospective vertical tasting of 12 vintages.

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