Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano 2024

Poliziano - Rosso di Montepulciano comes from the Carletti family's vineyards, north-east of Montepulciano, a hilltop town in south-eastern Tuscany. The hills there rise from 250 to 600 metres, and the plots for this cuvée, between 280 and 350 metres, lie on clay, limestone and silt soils. Sangiovese, known here as Prugnolo Gentile, ripens under a sunny climate with cool nights.

Organically farmed, the grapes are vinified traditionally, with native yeasts, in large truncated-cone vats. The wine is then aged for 8 to 10 months, half in large French oak vats (foudres) of 3,500 to 6,000 litres and half in concrete tanks, then refined for a further 2 to 4 months in bottle before release.

This wine reveals notes of cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blood orange, liquorice, violet, dried herbs and wet stone. Ripe red fruit dominates, lifted by citrus and a floral nuance, while a mineral touch adds depth. The palate is dense and precise, medium-bodied, with lovely tension, fine tannins and a fresh finish.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!