Poggio Antico Rosso di Montalcino 2022

Poggio Antico is an organic estate in Montalcino, in southern Tuscany, its vineyards set on the high ground of the commune. This Rosso is made from Sangiovese, the same grape and territory as the estate's Brunello, but bottled young for earlier drinking. The galestro and clay soils of Montalcino, combined with the altitude of the hills, give a wide day-to-night temperature range that preserves acidity and builds aromatic detail in the fruit. Sangiovese is naturally high in acid and tannin, and here it is picked to keep that brightness. The wine spends 8 months in French oak barrels and a further 4 months in bottle, a short elevage that settles the tannins and adds a light savoury frame without covering the fruit. The colour is bright ruby. The nose leads with fresh cherry and raspberry over dried herbs and a touch of earth. The palate is medium bodied and lively, the red fruit carried by firm acidity and fine tannin into a savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees. It is an easy match for Tuscan cooking, from pasta to grilled meats.