Chiara Condello Tre Vigne Sangiovese 2023

Chiara Condello works in Predappio, in the DOC Romagna Sangiovese, where her family has long made wine. The estate runs to seven hectares of vines, olive trees and woodland farmed organically. Predappio sits on the Apennine foothills, where marl and limestone soils and a marked day-to-night temperature swing slow ripening and hold acidity, giving Sangiovese its firm structure and savoury character. The grapes are the local clone, picked ripe and fermented with native yeasts before twelve months in large foudres. The big-format oak allows gentle oxygen exchange that softens the tannins without adding obvious wood flavour, so the fruit and earth stay in front. The wine is deep ruby with aromas of cherry, dark plum and red berries over dried herbs and a leathery note. The palate is medium bodied with fine grained tannin, bright acidity and an earthy, faintly oaked finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees in a Burgundy glass, with a short decant for the youngest vintages. It suits roast beef, lamb and tomato based pasta.