Villa Antinori Toscana Rosso is a juicy mouthful

Occasion: This is the first wine review in the new year of the monkey, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar, and good Tuscan wine like this can temper cheeky monkeys. Another great wine from the legendary Antinori stable, Villa Antinori Toscana Rosso is one of those everyday drinking values that people are always looking for. It is made up of a truly great blend of French and Italian grape varieties and normally it sells for twice the price of what I found here, so I guess you're in luck. Let me know if you don't agree it is an awesome drink; rated 90 points by Wine Spectator, as well.

Wine: Villa Antinori Toscana Rosso IGT

Grapes: Sangiovese, 55 percent; cabernet sauvignon, 25 percent; merlot, 15 percent; and syrah, 5 percent

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Vintage: 2011

In the glass: Villa Antinori Toscana wine is a deep ruby-red color with an opaque core going out into a deep garnet-hued rim definition with medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: The wine seems a bit restrained at first, but then opens up with a barrage of crushed red cherries, black pepper, spice box, marinara sauce, loganberry juice, ripe elderberry fruit, chewing tobacco and rustic earth-driven minerals.

On the palate: It is a nice mouthful of a wine, with juicy black spicy fruit, peppercorns, tobacco, cherry juice, huckleberry sauce, ripe black plums, toast points and loads of chewy minerals. Although the tannins seem very forward through the midpalate, the wine actually appears measured and balanced despite its rustic appearance. The finish is excellent with yet more black pepper, crushed ripe brambleberries, and good structure and backbone.

Price: $11.99

Availability: All wine retailers, chain stores

— Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears on Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.