Tuscan titans – Biondi Santi and Case Basse

There are many pretenders to the Montalcino wine throne but only two really big names: Biondi Santi and Gianfranco Soldera, whose estate and wine are known as Case Basse. Soldera’s name tends to be used instead because he is such a strong character. (The wines are no weaklings either.)

This article combines notes from a dinner with Gianfranco Soldera and his son Mauro at Harry’s Bar in London last November and Walter’s notes from a tasting late last month in London of particularly mature Riservas from the cellars of...