Sassotondo Franze 2020

Sassotondo sits on the volcanic tuff soils of Sorano and Pitigliano in southern Tuscany, a winery built by former film cameraman Edoardo Ventimiglia and his wife Carla Benini on a recovered estate. Franze is a structured IGP Toscana red blending the Tuscan native Ciliegiolo with Teroldego, farmed organically on free-draining tuff and weathered volcanic ground. The porous, mineral soils and warm coastal-influenced Maremma climate give ripe but fresh fruit with firm acidity. The wine spends twelve months in used French oak barrels, where the older wood adds slow oxygenation and gentle structure without the vanilla and toast of new barrels, softening the tannins while leaving the fruit and the site to lead. Expect a deep ruby colour and a nose of dark cherry and plum with black pepper, dried herbs, tobacco and a faint sweet-spice oak note. The palate is medium to full bodied, savoury and textured, with fine tannins, fresh acidity and a long earthy finish. Serve at around 17 degrees with a 30 to 60 minute decant. It suits roast and grilled red meats and mushroom dishes.