Canneto Filippone Toscana IGT 2011

Canneto Filippone Toscana IGT 2011 is a 750ml Super Tuscan red blend of Sangiovese and Merlot produced by Azienda Agricola Canneto in Montepulciano, Tuscany. This structured, oak-aged wine earned 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and 91 points from both Wine Spectator and The Wine Advocate — strong critical consensus for a bottling from one of Tuscany's most historic growing areas.

Quick Facts: Blend: 50% Sangiovese, 50% Merlot  |  Origin: Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy  |  Vintage: 2011  |  Producer: Azienda Agricola Canneto

Production & Heritage

Azienda Agricola Canneto operates from Via dei Canneti in Montepulciano, a town long celebrated for Sangiovese-driven reds. For the Filippone, grapes are de-stemmed, soft pressed, and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats using selected yeasts. Maceration times are tailored to each variety: 12 days for the Merlot and a longer 20 days for the Sangiovese, extracting deeper structure and color from the latter. The wine then ages for 24 months in French oak tonneaux before resting at least an additional 12 months in bottle — an extended maturation regimen that exceeds many comparable Super Tuscan blends and allows tannins to integrate thoroughly before release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Exotic wood and coconut give way to forest floor, fresh herbs, and a cedar-laced undercurrent. A subtle slate minerality adds complexity beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is generous with ripe blackberry, mulberry, and dark plum, building toward a dense mid-palate of black currant and bitter cherry. Leather, licorice, and sage emerge as the wine opens, while hints of mint and cardamom thread through a velvety, full-bodied texture. Wine Spectator described it as "intense and powerful… really a beauty."

Finish: Long and balanced with soft, well-resolved tannins that carry a dry, spicy close. Lingering notes of wild herb and dark fruit slowly fade.

How to Drink Filippone 2011

This is first and foremost a wine for the glass — serve it at 16–18°C after decanting for at least 30 minutes to let the oak-aged layers unfurl. A bold Super Tuscan blend like this also holds up in wine-forward cocktails: a Kalimotxo with premium cola for a surprisingly compelling low-effort serve; a Sangria Roja, where its dark fruit and spice amplify the punch; or a red wine Negroni variation in place of sweet vermouth, where the Filippone's structure and herbal notes complement Campari's bitterness.

Best For

• Gifting an Italian wine enthusiast who appreciates aged Super Tuscans
• Anchoring a Tuscan-themed dinner party alongside bistecca or wild boar ragù
• Adding a critically acclaimed library vintage to a personal cellar
• Celebrating a milestone with a wine that has already developed meaningful bottle age

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Filippone 2011 taste like? It delivers rich, dark fruit — blackberry, black currant, and bitter cherry — layered with leather, sage, licorice, and cedar, all carried by a velvety texture and soft tannins that finish dry and long.

How does Filippone 2011 compare to Antinori Tignanello? Both are Sangiovese-based Super Tuscans aged in French oak, but Tignanello uses a three-grape blend (Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) while Filippone pairs Sangiovese equally with Merlot, resulting in a softer, rounder mid-palate. Filippone also benefits from a longer minimum bottle-aging requirement of 12 months before release.

Is Filippone 2011 good for sipping neat? Yes — its 24 months in French oak tonneaux and extended bottle aging have produced well-integrated tannins and layered complexity that reward slow, undiluted drinking after a brief decant.

Where is Filippone 2011 made? It is produced by Azienda Agricola Canneto in Montepulciano, a hilltop town in southeastern Tuscany, Italy, renowned for its Sangiovese-based wines.

What foods pair well with Filippone 2011? Grilled bistecca alla fiorentina highlights the wine's structure and dark fruit; aged Pecorino Toscano echoes its savory, herbal notes; slow-braised wild boar ragù matches its weight and complexity; roasted lamb with rosemary complements the sage and cedar aromatics; and dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage bridges the wine's spice and bitter cherry finish.

What sizes does Filippone 2011 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Filippone 2011 worth the price? With 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and 91 from both Wine Spectator and The Wine Advocate, Filippone 2011 positions as a premium Super Tuscan that punches above many bottles in its tier, offering extended oak and bottle aging often associated with more expensive cuvées.

Why Filippone 2011?

The Filippone distinguishes itself through a production regimen that few wines at its price tier can match: a full two years in French oak tonneaux followed by at least one year of bottle rest before release, totaling a minimum of three years of aging. This patience shows in the finished wine — the 2011 vintage has already developed tertiary complexity while retaining fruit intensity. Triple-digit critical recognition across Wine Enthusiast (93), Wine Spectator (91), and The Wine Advocate (91) confirms that the equal-parts Sangiovese-Merlot blend achieves a balance of Tuscan character and international polish that stands on its own among Super Tuscans from Montepulciano.