2018 Renzo Masi Fattoria di Basciano I Pini Rosso dei Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 750 ml

If Renzo Masi’s 2018 I Pini Rosso hailed from the high-priced soils that Tuscan icons Sassicaia and Ornellaia call home, it would fit right in with the region’s luxurious reds. But this Super Tuscan blockbuster hails from Masi’s estate soils in Chianti, making it one of the most unique blends made in the zone—and at $25, one of Tuscany’s great deals.

This is the type of wine you live to discover: A monumental Tuscan red derived from incredible terroir within one of Chianti’s most esteemed sub-zones. It’s the result of three generations of dedication and a laser-focused winemaking regimen, and it drinks like wines that usually command a special-occasions-only price.

Bursting with Mission plum, dark chocolate, and spice, each sip boasts enough heft to go toe-to-toe with Italy’s heavyweights. The mouthfeel delivers all the goods with broad and integrated tannins, richness, and balanced acidity that make it ideal for that Tomahawk steak. It’s the kind of wine that dazzles your guests as soon as you pull the cork.  

A soulful Super Tuscan from the Chianti zone that would cost at least twice as much if it came from the high-dollar Maremma, don’t miss this at just $25. 

Renzo Masi could have made a wine like this by doing the predictable thing: spending millions on acreage on Tuscany’s Rodeo Drive in Bolgheri and copying the estates there. But instead of going where these blends are typical, they looked to their proven terroir in the Chianti Rufina DOCG. 

Here, on 86 rolling acres, Fattoria di Basciano’s terroir is defined by two trademark characteristics: altitude and distance from the coast. The stony soils are similar to what you’d find in Chianti Classico, but at 1,000 feet above sea level, the grapes ripen slowly, and are defined by firm acids. Meanwhile, the site’s inland location gives the vineyards the most continental climate of any Chianti subzone. The sharp diurnal variation helps balance vibrancy, immense concentration, and impeccable finesse.

On this land, the Masi family spent years researching and experimenting with grape varieties and proportions before finally settling on this blend, which mirrors Antinori’s Guado al Tasso. Composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, the wine is a stunning interpretation of the Super Tuscan genre, leaning heavily into the classic Bordeaux blend and bursting with sun-kissed, noble Tuscan charm.

With its monumental proportions, this release dwarfs its $25 per bottle price tag, offering the kind of bang-for-buck value that’s rarely seen in the Super Tuscan category. 

The red grapes in this blend acquire their magnificent strength and structure from high-altitude Galestro soils. The third-generation Masi family ages I Pini for 18 months in oak (half new) and gives it additional time in bottle—a step that normally adds $25 to the final price. The result is a Super Tuscan blend boasting supple drinkability, but the bold structure to last years in the cellar. 

At just $20 per bottle on cases, I Pini is the kind of release that big-time collectors can’t get enough of, and that you should snatch up even if collecting isn’t your thing. It’s just plain inspiring wine, a weeknight marvel that showcases Tuscany’s terroir and the winemaker’s passion.