Super Tuscans, without the mythology

There is no Super Tuscan denomination. No consortium governs it, no rule book defines it, and no seal appears on the bottle. It is a useful historical and commercial term, not a formal category.

Where the term came from

It grew up around high quality Tuscan wines that were not protected by the major appellations of the time. Producers were experimenting with international varieties and with blends and methods that the older classifications did not accommodate, so the wines were sold under humbler designations despite their ambition.

Sassicaia is the reference point most often cited. Its first commercial vintage was 1968, introduced in 1972.

Bolgheri's particular role

Much of this happened on the Tuscan coast, at Bolgheri, where Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc behave unusually well. In 1994 Bolgheri's red wine regulations were revised to recognise reds made from grapes such as Cabernet and Merlot.

In other words, the system caught up. Wines that had been outsiders became the defining wines of a recognised appellation.

What it means now

Today the phrase is loose. It is sometimes used for coastal Bordeaux style blends, sometimes for Sangiovese blended with international grapes, and sometimes as a marketing shorthand for expensive.

It is worth remembering that the interesting part was never the price. It was the willingness to plant differently, blend differently and see what Tuscany could do outside its habits. Plenty of modestly priced wines carry that same spirit.

How to buy in this territory

• Read the grapes rather than the nickname. A Cabernet led coastal red and a Sangiovese blend are very different wines.
• Bolgheri on the label tells you far more than Super Tuscan does.
• Expect riper fruit and rounder tannin than inland Sangiovese, especially from the coast.