Sangiovese
Only in Tuscany
by Anthony Lynch
Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, which produce prestigious wines around the world, great Sangiovese only comes from one place: Tuscany. From the rolling hills of Chianti Classico to the sunbaked slopes of Montalcino, you’ll find delicious everyday wines as well as regal expressions of the grape with sublime aromatics and rich, nuanced flavors. Here are three stellar examples of Sangiovese that demonstrate the variety’s diverse personalities, palpable sense of place, and unrivaled ability to complement the cuisine of Tuscany and the greater Mediterranean.
2021 Rosso di Montalcino
Italy | Tuscany
The Ferretti vineyards sit at what feels like the top of the world, looking down at the rest of Tuscany from the highest point in the Montalcino zone. From this sunny perch, thirty-something Matteo Perugino bottles dynamic Sangiovese bursting with vibrant red fruit, dried herbs, and a crunchy reminder of the stone-littered vineyard soil. Electric!
2019 Chianti Classico “Ai Lecci”
Italy | Tuscany
Geggiano specializes in dense, chewy Chianti from vines grown within view of Siena’s terra cotta rooftops. This new release highlights a parcel shielded from the hottest hours of afternoon sun by tall silver oaks (lecci), yielding a gentler Chianti characterized by dark, sultry fruit, luxurious spice, and velvety tannins. Adorned with a decorative label and a honey-scented natural beeswax seal, this bottle is a work of art through and through.
2018 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva “Santa Maria”
Italy | Tuscany
Marino Colleoni makes this Riserva from meticulously curated vineyards on the cooler northern slopes of Montalcino that draw out Sangiovese’s perfumed, floral side. His Santa Maria is coursing with raw beauty, exuding rose petals and turned earth and finishing with tannins fine as silk.
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