Montepeloso A Quo Rosso Toscana IGT 2022, Italy

Blend 2022: 30% Montepulciano, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 10% Marselan and 10% Alicante. Swiss born Fabio Chiarelotto has a 15-acre estate in the hills of Suvereto, which is near Bolgheri on the coast of Tuscany, or as I say, ‘On the upper shin of the boot.’ This area is one of the hottest in Tuscany and has brought about many producers bottling over-concentrated wines. Fabio however states that it is, ‘easy to produce concentrated wines in such a hot climate, but it’s much harder to achieve elegance and finesse.’ After purchasing the property in 1998 he spent eight years reshaping the vineyards, initiating biodynamic practices, and refining the blends – stating 2006 as the first vintage of the estate’s ‘mature phase’. The grapes are 100% destemmed and the wine spends only four months in second use barriques before being bottled unfiltered. A firm and silky red with blackberry and blueberry character with some hints of cream. Medium-bodied with polished tannins and a fresh finish. Racy and refined at the end. Drink or hold.