San Polino Sant'Antimo 2024

San Polino - Sant'Antimo comes from a 9-hectare estate south-east of Montalcino, in Tuscany, between 300 and 450 metres above sea level, surrounded by forests and olive trees. The grapes for this cuvée come from two Montalcino vineyards with soils mixing clays, marls and sandy silts of volcanic origin. The 2024 vintage, rather cool and wet, produced a bright, fresh Sangiovese.

The estate practises organic and regenerative viticulture, paying close attention to soil life. After the harvest, the grapes macerate for 25 days on their skins. The wine is then aged for six months in wooden barrels, then six months in stainless-steel tanks, a path that rounds out the texture while preserving the purity and brightness of the fruit.

This wine reveals notes of cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, wild flowers, garrigue, dried herbs, chalk and salt. Crunchy red fruit dominates, accompanied by floral and garrigue nuances, with a mineral touch on the finish. The palate is juicy, round and harmonious; fine, well-integrated tannins support a supple, indulgent texture, through to a fresh, slightly saline and taut 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!