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Ruffino Modus 2010 Wine Review

Ruffino Modus 2010

Ruffino Modus 2010

Tuscany, Italy

Community Score:92/100

Community Reviews: 12

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Price: $32.95

Drink: 2012-2019

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Ruffino

Agent: Arterra Wines Canada Inc.

Natalie's Score: 94/100

A gorgeous blend of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot grapes. This full-bodied, complex, rich red offers aromas of black cherry, smoke and dried herb aromas. Wonderfully concentrated with a long finish. Decant 2 hours. Remarkable rich, yet fresh and vibrant. Perfect for dinner parties. Be sure to decant for 2 hours.

Food pairings: pork tenderloin, autumn hodge-podge.

Charming Grilled Chicken Wine

This Ruffino Modus 2010 was reviewed on September 28, 2013 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2019  2018  2017  2016  2014 

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Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Valérie Dufour - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

The Modus is the supertoscan of the Ruffino house. The nose is uber powerful with aromas of black berries (plums and cherries in eau-de-vie), spices and clear aromas of the barriques so lots of torrefaction (cocoa, tobacco). A steal at that price range. Bones to last 5 plus years in the cellar.
Malcolm Lamont - WSET Adv, CSW rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Wow, fantastic aromas on this so called Super-Tuscan. Deep concentrated red and black fruit, spiciness, dark chocolate, sweet tobacco, and black liquorice come out in a very complex bouquet that offers more and more as you go back.

Drinks fantastically in the range of a $70 wine, while coming in at $28.95!! And very well-balanced on the palate.

This 'Super-Tuscan' is 50% sangiovese, 25% Merlot and 25% Cab Sauv.

This wine is a great example of the revered Tuscan blend, at a very inviting price!

Tasted October 2013
Nick Onischuk - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

This blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot had the senses buzzing. This full bodied wine had beautiful aromas that seemed to keep developing in the glass as time went on. Aromas of cherry, spice, strawberries, tobacco and plums were present. On the palate, the smooth tannins and long finish of fruit and vanilla were amazing. This wine paired very well with the Veal Portofino, scallopini, grilled shrimp, grilled peppers, saffron risotto and port reduction sauce. Tasted October 19, 2013 (93/100)
Andrew Bernardo rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

This wine has been made since 1999, and has never scored below 90 points. The 2010 is no different, featuring aromas and flavours of scorched caramel, black plums, milk chocolate, spice, grape pumice, and vanilla. Elegant and refined, this wine only needs another year or two in bottle to hit its peak – unlike the monstrous 2007, which needs until 2016-2017 to come out of its shell. 93 Points. -Rachel (ottawawinejournal.com)
Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Get ready for an explosion. There was a very excited buzz at my table for this wine. Must confess this was my first taste of Ruffino Modus - Latin for method. It won't be my last. Full bodied. Opaque. Ripe dark cherry, tobacco, smoke, plum, chocolate, herbs. Perfect alongside our Braised veal shank with saffron risotto. In production since 1999 Modus has never scored below 90 points from Wine Spectator. Tannins are evident so suggest decanting at least 1 hour. Great action packed wine for $30.
Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

My first time tasting the Modus (2010 vintage) and wow, what a fantastic wine. Deep dark ruby red, loads of dark fruit, plum, spice, pipe tobacco, and leather. A beautiful balance of old world and new world wine styles, it's no wonder why this wine is selling out so quickly. At under $30 this is very high quality wine for the price. Buy by the half (or full) case, if you can still find them in stores...
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

The name "Modus" is Latin for "method". Deep ruby red with violet hues, this wine is produced on the Ruffino Estates of Poggio Casciano and Santedame, from 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot varietals-the "Modus blend".
This wine has never scored below 90 in the Wine Spectator. Easy to see why, from the intense aromas of mature cherries,plums and dark berries and milk chocolate, a hint of tobacco, fading into hints of spices, mint, sweet tobacco and balsamic notes. The fruity, chocolatey palate is full-bodied, harmonious and characterized by silky tannins. Persisitent finish of blackberries and cocoa.
The beautiful label shows a wheel depicting the total cycle of grape growth and wine production.
Dan Trcka Wine Blogger rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The 2010 Ruffino Modus is composed of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot that was aged in American Oak for 12 months. The wine has intense aromas of cherry, blackberry and cedar on the nose and blackberry, black cherry and light vanilla on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with checked acidity, refined tannins (decant for 30 min) and a long finish. It’s a food friendly and sipping wine; drink now – 2019. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted at 'Taste Italy 2013' http://grapeselections.com/taste-italy-2013/ in Nov/13.

See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:

http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
Although the Ruffino story began in 1870, the first vintage of Modus wasn’t produced until 1997. Source: Vintages Wine Panel, undated.

2 Members would buy this wine again

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