Podere Il Castellaccio Somatico 2022

Podere Il Castellaccio is the family estate of vintner Alessandro Scappini in Tuscany, bottled here under the IGP Toscana appellation. Somatico is made from Pugnitello, an almost extinct native variety rescued and replanted in recent decades, prized for deep colour, firm tannin and dark fruit. The vines are farmed organically on Tuscan hillside soils of clay, limestone and stone, which drain freely and keep yields low, concentrating phenolics in the small berries. The warm days and cool nights of the inland Tuscan climate slow ripening and preserve acidity, giving the wine freshness to balance its power. After fermentation the wine spends around twelve months in large oak casks, where the lower surface to volume ratio of the botti allows slow, gentle oxygenation that polishes the tannins without imposing toasty oak flavour. The colour is deep ruby with a nose of black plum, cherry, cracked pepper and dried herbs over leather and earth. The palate is full and structured, with grippy but ripe tannins and a long savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant before serving. It is built for grilled and roasted red meat.