Notify me
Unthinkably Brilliant Pinot with a Tuscan Soul
Unthinkably Brilliant Pinot with a Tuscan Soul
by Emily Spillmann by Emily Spillmann
A selection from the Classics Sale A selection from the Classics Sale
2017 Toscana Rosso
2017 Toscana Rosso


Cuna Italy | Tuscany
Use promo code CLASSICS2023 at checkout to take 20% OFF this wine and other wines in the CLASSICS SALE!
Knowing what a finicky grape Pinot Noir can be, it takes a special personality to make it thrive in Tuscany, and Federico Staderini uses his agronomy experience, his passion for Tuscan history, and his incredible intuition to accomplish the feat. Seemingly weightless but densely packed with rich, complex flavors, this wine evokes oddly paired descriptors that in this case are perfectly apt: spicy yet velvety, crisp on the attack with a long, round finish, plums on the nose but sour cherry on the palate.
Federico likens it to “the elegance and the levity of a sail blown by the wind on a luminous ocean.” Try it with homemade tapenade topped with an abundance of the best-quality olive oil you can get your hands on.


Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Nero |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Tuscany |
Producer: | Podere Santa Felicita |
Vineyard: | 3.5 ha, Planted in 2004, 2005, 2007 |
Soil: | Clay, limestone |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
Use promo code CLASSICS2023 at checkout to take 20% OFF this wine and other wines in the CLASSICS SALE!
More from this Producer or Region

2018 Chianti Classico Riserva
Italy | Tuscany
Concentrated, youthful, and soulful, this Sangiovese is enchanting now, but it has a long life full of gorgeous evolution ahead.

2016 Brunello di Montalcino
Italy | Tuscany
A remarkable bottle of Sangiovese: complex, succulent, and slightly savory, with notes of red fruit, spices, and earth, and a long finish.

2018 Chianti Classico
Italy | Tuscany
This is delicious Sangiovese from the Greve zone of Chianti Classico and made by some of the nicest and most talented people you could ever hope to meet.

2017 Chianti Classico
Italy | Tuscany
Broad-shouldered, with hearty tannin and acidity and a dark, earthy quality to its fruit, it is a lumberjack wine that can cut through anything a Tuscan table can throw its way—wild game and aged cheeses are some of our favorites.

2017 Brunello di Montalcino
Italy | Tuscany
The regal perfume is both sweet and savory, with ripe berry fruit accented by balmy herbs and earthy wafts of incense.

2012 Brunello Riserva “Phenomena” MAGNUM
Italy | Tuscany
The Riserva is rich and savory, with intense flavors; bright, tightly wound mid-palate; vigorously youthful. It will continue to improve with more time in bottle.

2020 Toscana Rosso “Bandinello”
Italy | Tuscany
Among the most perfect country wines we carry on our shelves.

2020 Rosso di Montalcino
Italy | Tuscany
Few wines are better suited to tomato-based dishes, wild mushrooms, grilled vegetables, or a hearty ragù over fresh egg noodles

2020 Rosso di Montalcino
Italy | Tuscany
September Club Rouge ~ Paired with the high-elevation freshness, this site yields a lively, focused Rosso, featuring a mineral backbone that provides crystalline structure to the juicy, savory red fruit that cascades over the palate.

2018 Chianti Classico Riserva “Fondatore”
Italy | Tuscany
Always a standout, it is lithe, racy, and elegant, while not lacking the stony backbone for which great Greve is known.
About The Producer
Cuna
Several decades of work as an agronomist and enologist, not to mention being a native of Tuscany and an avid student of history, gave Federico Staderini all the tools he needed to ferret out this forgotten limestone terroir high in the hills of eastern Tuscany, known to the Etruscans long before him. We had known Federico when we collaborated at Poggio di Sotto and his Pinot Nero project at Cuna left our minds running wild with anticipation.
After we toured his vineyards, which seemed abundantly healthy despite the tiny Pinot Noir clusters clinging to each vine, Federico’s pipette began to dip and tour through his small cellar of old barrels, each taste revealing a wine of strong, confident character and surprising finesse. Afterward, a vertical sampling of six older vintages confirmed what had to be tasted to be believed: Federico had unearthed the Holy Grail for producing age-worthy Pinot Nero in Tuscany, and we would import it to the United States for all of our clients to experience.
About The Region
Tuscany
Perhaps no region is tied to Italy’s reputation as a producer of fine wine as much as Tuscany. Since Etruscan times, viticulture has played a prominent role in this idyllic land of rolling hills, and the Tuscan winemaking tradition remains as strong as ever today. With a favorable Mediterranean climate, an undulating topography offering countless altitudes and expositions, and a wealth of poor, well-draining soils, conditions are ideal for crafting high-quality wines. Add to that the rich gastronomical tradition—Tuscany is home to some of the country’s finest game, pastas, salumi, and cheeses—and you have the blueprint for a world-class wine region.
This is Sangiovese territory; in fact, it is arguably the only place in the world where Sangiovese reaches a truly regal expression. In spite of a rocky history with fluctuations in quality, traditionally produced Chianti has reclaimed its status as one of the country’s most reliable, food-friendly reds, while the rapid rise of Brunello di Montalcino shows the grape’s potential for grandiose, opulent reds allying power and finesse. Traditionally-minded growers have stuck to using only indigenous grape varieties and employing techniques like aging in massive wooden casks known as botti, creating wines of terroir that shine at the Tuscan table.
Tuscan wines have had a place in our portfolio since Kermit’s first visit in 1977. While the names of the estates have changed, the spirit of those first unfiltered Chiantis he imported live on through our current selections.
More from Tuscany or Italy
2018 Chianti Classico Riserva
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2017 Brunello di Montalcino
Ferretti Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico Riserva
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany
2022 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sesti Italy | Tuscany
2012 Chianti Classico Riserva
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2012 Brunello Riserva “Phenomena” MAGNUM
Sesti Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico
Castagnoli Italy | Tuscany
2020 Toscana Rosso “Bandinello”
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2019 Chianti Classico
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2017 Chianti Classico
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico Riserva “Fondatore”
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico Riserva
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2017 Brunello di Montalcino
Ferretti Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico Riserva
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany
2022 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sesti Italy | Tuscany
2012 Chianti Classico Riserva
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2012 Brunello Riserva “Phenomena” MAGNUM
Sesti Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico
Castagnoli Italy | Tuscany
2020 Toscana Rosso “Bandinello”
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2019 Chianti Classico
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2017 Chianti Classico
Villa Di Geggiano Italy | Tuscany
2018 Chianti Classico Riserva “Fondatore”
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany
Vintage Chart Mentality

Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch