Freddy R. Troya

9.1

La Braccesca – Achelo 2023
Cortona DOC – Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹
100% Syrah

Overview
Achelo is La Braccesca’s pure expression of Syrah, grown in the Cortona appellation — an area that has quickly become Tuscany’s benchmark for this Rhône varietal. Unlike the usual Sangiovese-driven Tuscan reds, this bottle showcases Syrah’s fruit-forward, spicy elegance in a Mediterranean setting.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry up front, layered with violet, black pepper, and a faint hint of licorice. A touch of Mediterranean herbs rounds it out beautifully.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively freshness. Silky tannins carry a supple, juicy core of fruit, finishing smooth and vibrant without heaviness.

Food Pairings
Pairs effortlessly with grilled sausages, roasted duck, Tuscan cured meats, or pasta with rich ragù. Also a great match for charred vegetables.

Verdict
Expressive, fruity, and juicy to the last sip. Achelo 2023 is a surprising Tuscan treasure that proves Syrah thrives in Cortona — both approachable now and worth watching as it develops.

Did You Know?
Though Syrah is more famously associated with the Rhône Valley, Cortona DOC in Tuscany has built a reputation for world-class Syrah, thanks to its favorable microclimate and clay-limestone soils. — 8 months ago

Bhuvana Husain

8.9

Delicious white wine! Recommended by wegmans salesperson and I’d definitely get it again. — a year ago

Gabriel Diaz

10

One of my favorite white wines by antinori — 4 years ago

Juan Pablo Perez

9.1

Nariz: cereza, ciruela, rosa seca, cuero, tierra. Aromas secundarios; mostrando evolución.

Boca: Tanino M, Acidez M, Alcohol M — 6 years ago

Victor Hsu

9.2

Really tasty Napa Chardonnay with a nice balance of creaminess and minerality. Not too oaky, not too steely, but just right, with a touch of nutmeg on top. Enjoyed the 2016 vintage with lobster bisque and a grilled 3-lb lobster at The Palm Restaurant in LA. — 7 years ago

Blake McKee

9.4

Nice hot day today and the cool white wine was just the ticket . Medium acidity and beautiful notes of fresh fruit and flowers had it with pork and will buy this one again and again — 9 years ago

Ian Gomez

9.1

2008 delightful and easy to drink. — 10 years ago

Lisa Sands

9.5

Great for a pre-meal drink! No oak, dry with a clean finish. — 11 years ago

Olivier Perrin

9.2

One of rhe most tasty white Orvieto Wine — 13 years ago

Ernesto Aguilar

9.3

Great wine balanced and fruity aroma (apple) — 13 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.1

Jesus o marco z — 8 months ago

Nopchanok

8.9

Nice watermelon taste go along well with seafood. — 9 months ago

Jan A

9.2

Very good. At this moment in time not much difference between this and the 2020 Tignanello that we drank next to it. Same style. This one being much more open and less backbone, the Tignanello needs more time with more to come. — a year ago

Juan Pablo Iturbide

9.2

Deep color, very well balanced, black fruit, black cherry, fig, tanins are medium.
Goes very well with roasted duck, chicken red meat, risotto, mushrooms. — 4 years ago

Simone M

9.1

Nice and buttery, not anything super special — 6 years ago

janelle Krabben

9.8

Smooth red with cherry flavor but not too sweet. Wonderful body and aftertaste — 8 years ago

François Hugueniot

9.0

Élégant nose with peppermint, chocolate , red fruit. In mouth powerful tannins too oaky now, should stay in cellar for 10 more years — 9 years ago

Nate Redner

9.7

Elegant and mature. Like the cougar of chianti. — 11 years ago

with Luke

Paul Heyrman

9.7

Perfect with tiramisu — 12 years ago

Nicole Azat

9.8

Very light, refreshing — 13 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.2

Very good, as always (my third vintage). A cherry, strawberry, leather, vanilla and smoke maybe. High, pleasant acidity. Tannins on their way to smoothness. — 8 months ago

Seth Masterson

9.0

Has Vermentino fallen out of favour with Italians and is being replaced by a taste for Chardonnay?
Maybe but I don't want to believe it yet.
On hot summer days there is not much more refreshing than a well chilled glass of Vermentino. Chilled is a must - it still has enough oomph in the nose to release its floral essence. Once it comes up to room temp it can be overwhelmingly perfumey IMHO. Good acid balance.
I'm pretty convinced that you can trust anything from Fontori to be a solid choice. — 9 months ago

Laura Vaughn Arellano

9.1

Had this one at Capo’s in LV. Went down well with the meal. — 2 years ago

Lorena Jordao

8.9

2018 Montalcino at Felice. Very good! — 5 years ago

LM Segal

9.2

Surprisingly good, full bodied, young, lush. Long. Clean. Cassis all over and after. Will age 3-4 years easily but no real need to wait. Great PV. — 6 years ago

Lindsey Tramuta

9.3

Crisp, refreshing — 9 years ago

Louis Martin

9.0

Hint of plum and spice, high viscosity and sharp tannins, smooth for a blend. Makes me think of Italy... — 9 years ago

Megan Lloyd

9.7

Wine we drank at Gianni's in Aruba. So good!! Light and fruity — 11 years ago

Pepe Garcia

9.4

Requiere tomarse a 18 grados. Seco y terroso. Aspero — 12 years ago

Michael Brown

9.0

Nice tannins and a mineral structure. Went well with sausage, polenta and marinara. This wine would age well for a few more years. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet. — 13 years ago