Chianti Classico is one of the great territories for Italian Merlot, and the area is so far withstanding the pressure being put onto this early-ripening grape due to climate change. The Castello di Bossi 2019 Girolamo is fleshed out and generous with dark blackberry and cherry confit, sweet spice, gentle tannins and a full-bodied texture. This vintage offers more concentration and richness overall.

A pure expression of Merlot, the Castello di Bossi 2016 Girolamo strikes balanced ripeness with an emphasis on both fruitiness and freshness. The fruit side is quite enhanced in this classic vintage with dark cherry, plum and blackberry preserves. Red and purple berries cede to spice, tar, smoke and a touch of bittersweet chocolate. Ultimately, the wine appears tight, tonic and fresh, imparting generous texture and weight with no residual heaviness. This 2016 vintage should continue aging nicely in the bottle.

The 2013 Girolamo is a disappointment. This wine is weighed down by overripe sensations that make it feel flatter and heavier than it should. The bouquet opens to cured meat aromas with cooked cherry and blackberry preserves. Girolamo is one of Tuscany's top Merlots, but this vintage does not live up to the reputation set by previous editions. The wine feels prematurely aged even now, just out of the gate.

A pure expression of Merlot, the 2012 Girolamo is not immediately easy to pin down. I noted some bottle variation. This review is based on the sample most in line with my past tasting experiences. Having said that, the 2012 vintage was dry and hot and made for challenging growing conditions for the early-ripening grapes. This wine successfully moves past those difficulties. This dark and voluptuous expression is loaded tight with dark cherry and blackberry. Some 12,000 bottles were produced. It is best consumed in the near and medium term.

This is a first rate Merlot from Tuscany. The 2011 Girolamo is soft, yielding, pleasurable and extremely plump. The texture is outstanding as the wine glides clear over the palate like a silk sheet. It is persuasive, enduring and long lasting. Aromas of dark cherry, cinnamon spice and chocolate stands to attention and the wine continues to evolve and gain momentum as it warms in the glass. This is a truly beautiful effort that offers immense drinking joy. It should also hold well over the coming decade. But you might not be able to wait that long.