Il Conventino
Vino Nobile Riserva 2018

Made from 90% Sangiovese (locally called Prugnolo Gentile) with Colorino and Canaiolo grown at 350 metres above sea level. Vineyards employ both cordon and Guyot vine training to manage ripeness and yield. Yield is low at just 35 hl per ha, ensuring high quality and concentrated fruit. All vinifications are done using native (wild) yeasts, which tend to produce more complexity that widely available commercial yeasts. There is a short maceration at controlled temperatures to extract colour, flavour and tannin from the grape skins. Aging is done for 30 months in large Slavonian oak barrels.

The 2018 Vino Nobile Riserva is excellent. Powerful and rich with plenty of chewy tannins, yet elegant and refreshing with a long satisfying finish. The 14.5% alcohol is barely perceptible given the core of fruit and typical, lively Sangiovese acidity. Both black (plum, black cherry, blueberry) and red fruits (red cherry and raspberry) dominate the nose, with fig, sweet spices and violets rounding things out. Tertiary notes of leather, underbrush and smoke have developed during the extended barrel aging and lend considerable complexity. At the moment, the wine needs to be decanted for an hour for al these aromas and flavours to come out. With a few years of bottle age, this wine will be a meditative delight!

The 2018 vintage was a finalist for three glasses with Gambero Rosso.