Avignonesi Capannelle 50 & 50 Toscana 2020

This IGP Toscana red comes from a partnership between Avignonesi, in Montepulciano, and the Capannelle estate in Chianti Classico, the two contributing roughly equal parts to the blend. The wine is half Merlot and half Sangiovese, each vinified separately before assembly, which is where the 50 & 50 name comes from. Merlot brings plush plum and a rounder texture, while Sangiovese supplies the cherry fruit, acidity and the tannic structure that gives the wine its backbone and ageing potential. The vineyards are farmed organically and the wine is made without animal products, so it is certified vegan. Tuscany's clay and limestone soils and warm, dry summers ripen both grapes fully while the elevation keeps acidity in balance. Barrel ageing rounds the tannins and adds a measured layer of oak. The colour is deep garnet. The nose offers ripe plum and dark cherry over cocoa, sweet spice and tobacco, and the palate is full bodied and structured, with dense fruit, firm tannin and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees in a large glass and decant an hour ahead. It is a wine for serious red meat and game.