Risotto was on the dinner menu and I decided it needed an Italian red.  Did I ever hit the goldmine.

This wine came to me out of pure luck; I purchased a case of random, sight unseen bottles from an American importer and this one happened to be in the box.  So, I can’t even take credit for having been super smart and ordered it.

The winery is certified organic and Demeter biodynamic – and run by a European couple who met in Tuscany and decided to return to purchase land and make wine there.

Caroline Pobitzer and Jan Hendrik Erbach don’t filter their wines, use only indigenous yeasts, only grow Sangiovese Grosso and the maximum yield per vine is only one bottle.  And talk about knowing where you’re buying – their 6 ha is located right beside the famous Biondi Santi property.

On the eyes, the wine is translucent ruby with aromas of raspberry, tobacco and mocha.

On the palate, it’s dry with juicy acidity, perfectly strained tannins and flavours of red cherry, violet, cola and tobacco leaf.

So layered and rich, this wine grows and develops as it opens in the glass.  Nothing bitter or empty about it – it’s a luscious, round and full wine.

WSET Very good plus