Do you love Italian wine and don't know
Sangiovese? Impossible. Together with Nebbiolo, Sangiovese is
the most representative red grape of Italian wine. You will find it in Romagna, in Umbria, in the Marche and in other regions, especially central. But let's not beat around the bush here:
the great Sangiovese, the one that gets people shaking in excitement, is Tuscan. It is here, between Chianti, Val d'Orcia and Maremma, that this grape variety gives
the most taut, austere, structured and above all long-lived wines. Terroir accomplices which need no introduction.
There is Montalcino, of course. The Sangiovese of the legend. Here the potential of this pure variety has begun to be understood. Rustic tannins, ageing in large barrels, maximum freshness, longevity over thirty years. Perhaps the best known Italian wine brand in the world. Brunello is certainly not wine for every day, but, if you’re patient, it is unbeatable in the most elaborate pairings. But for the true hedonists it can also be enjoyed alone. Regal.
Do you underestimate the Chianti? You’re making a big mistake! Perhaps this is the most typical expression of the vine. Simple and rustic and therefore immense. Chianti Classico is the perfect wine for the occasions when you have fun with meat at the table. It is multifaceted. Summer grill? Chianti Classico. Winter braised meat? Chianti Classico. But if you linger a bit on your glass, that balsamic fruit and that fruit preserved in in alcohol will explode that many times will open up tastings - for thickness and character – which are no lesser than those of a great Brunello, but more pop.
Other parts of Tuscany? The list is never-ending! Today we will focus on Montepulciano, home of a sweeter Sangiovese, of silky, smooth and gentle tannins. They call it, precisely, Prugnolo Gentile, but it is definitely a Sangiovese. In its highest expression it is the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Noble because this Sangiovese has blue blood: it whispers, it doesn’t scream. A different Sangiovese, certainly, but ideal for the more refined palates looking for subtelty, with balanced power. Unmissable.