Florentine Sommelier & Italian And French Wines

Below is a profile of a Florentine sommelier, followed by tasting notes on Italian wines from Tuscany, as well as Bordeaux wines from 2024 and 2025.

Florentine Sommelier—

I met Eugenia Braschi almost a decade ago in Trentino and Alto Adige in northern Italy. She works her tail off as a marketing manager (Antinori, Tivoli), travels to all parts of the world (Brazil for her birthday, Africa for exploration), works out relentlessly at the gym and is a truly generous and warm human. She is a sommelier and wine instructor and a consummate professional.

She works both as a marketing manager for a major hotel group in Florence, as well as part time at Becoming Barman School in Florence. She has demonstrated an ability to juggle marketing and communications acumen while also teaching others about Italian and international wines.

Eugenia gave my soon to be published cookbook The Winemakers' Cooking Companion a glowing review, especially because of its range of recipes from Italy:

“A true gastronomic masterpiece! This book is an exciting journey through the most authentic flavors of Italian cuisine, expertly paired with wine pairings that enhance every nuance. The recipes are described with passion and clarity, making every page a source of tangible inspiration. Tom Mullen, a great expert and traveler, has a love for food and wine that shines through in every detail: this work is more than just a culinary guide—it is an experience to be enjoyed with all the senses.”

—Eugenia Braschi, sommelier and wine educator, Florence, Italy

Insider Insights—

Read more about The Winemakers' Cooking Companion cookbook at this site.

Read this recent Facebook post mentioning my review of Bordeaux vintage 2023 wines:

Recipe—

The free recipe below, from my cookbook The Winemakers' Cooking Companion, is from Tuscany in Italy—Wild Boar and Paparadelle Pasta. Substitute beef accordingly!

Click the button below to be notified when The Winemakers' Cooking Companion Cookbook is published in June. I'll send you a free ebook that I wrote (to be republished this June) titled Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life which includes interviews with over 50 people who work in the world of wine in a dozen countries.

Wine Reviews—

Below are tasing notes on various wines from Tuscany in Italy, as well as various wines from the recent 2025 and 2024 vintages from Bordeaux, France.

Italy—Tuscany

Vignamaggio. Monna Lisa. Chianti Classico. DOCG. Gran Selezione. 2018. 94+ points.

This 90/10 blend of Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon is named after the subject of Leonardo da Vinci’s famed painting subject, who spent part of her youth on the property where these grapes are now grown. Aged 20 months in French oak barrels and at least six month in bottles. Elegant, bright fruit in this well-structured wine with crisp acidity. 15,000 bottles produced.

Vignamaggio. Cabernet Franc di Vignamaggio. IGT Toscana. 2019. 92-94 points.

Aged in French oak barrels up to 24 months and then in bottle for eight months. Perky and fruity aromas of cherry, anise, malt balls and black licorice. Chunky, full, fun, lively mid palate with engaging meaty and dark fruit flavors. Complex with simmering acidity, firm well developed tannins. A hearty and lively main course meal wine. 6,000 bottles produced.

Vignamaggio. Cabernet Franc di Vignamaggio. IGT Toscana. 2020. 93+ points.

100% Cabernet Franc that aged in French oak barriques for up to 24 months. Rich and complex aromas of cherries, syrup and leather with violets and blue/black fruit. Dense, concentrated and hearty peppery and stroganoff mid palate with flavors of mocha and black licorice and concentrated red fruit. Well structured, with robust but restrained tannins. Still young but will pair well with grilled and peppery beef and toasted red peppers.

Vignamaggio. Merlot di Santa Maria. IGT Toscana. 2017. 92-93 points.

Merlot becomes more difficult to grow on this estate as quantities diminish with shifting climate patterns. This wine aged 24 months in French oak barrels and eight months in bottle and includes a Cabernet Franc like herbaceousness in aromas and a rich mid palate.

Pinino Brunello di Montalcino. 2021. 92-93 points.

Ruby color to this Sangiovese with luscious and light aromas that include rum, cherry, raspberry, black forest gateaux, spice and red cherries. Light and elegant tannins in this still young red fruit blend with pronounced tannins. Flavors of plums and apricots and licorice as well as lapsang souchong tea and blackberries, balsamic, dark licorice, black berries, crunchy bar and slight toffee. Bright acidity. Complex and engaging. 

France—Bordeaux 2025

Famille Todeschini. Préface. 2025. 92 points.

This white Merlot—crossed between Merlot Noir and Folle Blanche—is fermented in steel and aged on lees for three months. Includes a perfume of sweet spring florals as well as buoyant and balanced aromas of white pears, guava, mandarins and a chunk of pineapple. In the mouth a flush of acidity and sizzling white fruit. Linear but wholly focused with tropicals that include mangos and lime, as well as brittle minerality. A juicy slice of grapefruit segment on the finish. Pair with salty edamame, Gouda and crackers or with grilled salmon sprinkled with rosemary and lemon juice. Production is less than 3,000 bottles.

Famille Todeschini. La Brande. Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2025. 90-91 points.

A 60/30/7/2/1 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot/Malbec made from 40+ year old vines. Aged up to 13 months in steel and 500 liter barrelsJ. Jammy aromas, followed in the mouth by acidic red fruit. Somewhat tannic because this is still young. 15,000 bottles produced.

Famille Todeschini. Château Mangot. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2025. 92-93 points.

A 60/38/2 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon aged up to 15 months in wood, amphorae and tank. Velvety aromas include plum and cassis, followed by fresh and perky flavors of fresh red fruit including cherries. Easy drinking with suave tannins and pronounced acidity. Give this another year before drinking.

Famille Todeschini. Distique 18. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2025. 92-94 points.

An inversion of classic right bank Bordeaux proportions—being a 70/30 Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend. Named after the foundation of an epigram by Ausonius, a fourth century Bordeaux born, Roman poet. Classic creamy and layered Saint-Émilion aromas of prunes, red cherries and chocolate. In the mouth this wine is suave and balanced with pronounced 2025 acidity and light tannins. This will be gob-smacking delicious in just a few months. 8,000 bottles produced.

Château Divon. Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion. 2022. 92+ points.

14% alcohol. A smoky and roast goulash set of powerful aromas. Tar and malt balls, black berries. Raspberries on the attack followed by a full bodied, hearty, ripe dark and red fruits, suave tannins, bristling acidity. Pair with grilled beef or a soy pilaf.

Château Divon. Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion. 2024. 93-94 points.

A medley of light red fruit—raspberries, red plums and even apricots—melded with tarragon. A darkly seductive mouthful with suave but lip smacking tannins, nuttiness, black licorice, complex layers of dark fruit and a stream of red fruit juice with crisp acidity. Pair with meat loaf or shish kebab. Dark, fun, powerful.

Château La Naude. Bordeaux Supérieur. 2025. 94+ points.

Rich, acidity brimming, perky aromas of young spring red fruit—raspberries and red plums as well as black pepper and gorse. Balanced mouthful with excellent fruit tannin tension and brimming acidity. Sunshine and equilibrium in this light but energetic, focused and well poised wine.

Château Tour de Bellegarde. Bordeaux Supérieur. 2025. 95-96 points.

80/5/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon from 35 year old vines. Bristling but also delicate aromas of black cherries, black currants and raspberries. A lithe and luscious light beauty in the mouth—subtle and precise flavors, gorgeously rich and easy to drink. Complex with almost frail flavors of light red fruit, slight black pepper and tarragon. Pair with a pavlova dessert or grilled chicken breast and gravy.

Château Haut Bellegarde. 2025. 94 points.

From Vignobles Guillaume Bergeron on right bank Bordeaux, this 14% alcohol wine includes aromas of young fresh red fruit and herbs. Deliciously easy drinking, balanced with poise and grace, zippy flavors or ebullient red fruits that include raspberries, red plums, black cherries and dark peaches. Lovely light and engaging wine. Pair with tarragon chicken or tortellini with grated black pepper.

Château Divon. Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion. 2025. 93-94 points.

Young and quiet aromas or red fruits. Engaging and delicious mid palate of elegant fruit and tannins brimming with gushing young fruit flavors that include red cherry tart and blueberries. Hearty but also delicate with a hint of Beaujolais tenderness. Enjoy a glass before dinner.

France—Bordeaux 2024 

Famille Teycheney. La Vallée Parcellaire. 2024. 92+ points.

From Caroline Teycheney and team, this unique 12% alcohol blend is unusual for Bordeaux because it includes Merlot as well as the Syrah, which is typically from the Rhone Valley and Languedoc regions. It is a smooth and easy drinking ‘wine of good tidings’ because every time we drink it good news arrives. Aromas of earth, hazelnuts and red fruit. Red cherries on the attack and a chewy, fun, light but complex and engaging mid palate with a flush or blue fruit, chocolate and espresso. Fresh acidity, low tone tannins. Compelling and velvety, and glasses will keep getting poured.

What's Coming

I'll soon feature:

• Wines from Poland
• Wines from Limoux
• Recipe competition

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