2013 Isole e Olena, Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon, Toscana IGT

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is superb. A delicate, nuanced wine in this vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon speaks in hushed tones. Silky tannins and highly expressive aromatics add to an impression of total finesse. In many vintages, the Cabernet can be quite big, but not in 2013. This is a brilliant showing from Isole and proprietor Paolo De Marchi.

This wine was not produced in 2012 because of the heat, nor was it produced in 2009 because of hail. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata shows a level of focused definition that comes from a cooler vintage. The bouquet offers sour cherry, blackberry, blue flower and forest floor. Grilled herb and spice appear at the back. The wine reveals a slightly nervous personality with tight tannins. Give it another few years of bottle aging.