“Petresco” Rosso Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 2021 (BIO)

Podere Le Cinciole | Tuscany
Le Cinciole Soc. Semplice Agr. | Via Case Sparse 83 | IT 50022 Panzano in Chianti

29042321 · 0,75 l · 74,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Many people today forget what Petresco historically represents: Luca Orsini's response to the Super Tuscan craze of the 1990s. Whilst half of Panzano was ageing Cabernet and Merlot in new French Allier oak to please American critics, Orsini remained steadfast. He created a pure Sangiovese, deliberately classifying it as an IGT to free himself from rigid doctrines, and proved to the world that Panzano needs no Bordeaux-style crutches. In the exceptional 2021 vintage, this single-varietal Sangiovese achieves a stature that can, without hesitation, be ranked amongst the great Tuscan terroir monuments.

The grapes come from the estate's oldest plots, situated at an altitude of around 450 metres, on pure, extremely stony Alberese soil with sparse layers of clay marl – the vines must reach deep into the limestone bedrock to access water and nutrients. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with wild yeasts in cement tanks, followed by a long, gentle maceration period of over four weeks with minimal mechanical intervention: extraction through time and gravity, not through aggressive winemaking techniques. Ageing lasts around 24 months in small wooden vessels,Liters and barriques, with an extremely low proportion of new wood – a maximum of 10 to 15% – the remainder being second- and third-use barrels. The wood is not used to impart toasty notes, but to provide an ultra-fine supply of oxygen that refines the dense tannins. This is followed by at least twelve months in concrete vats and in the bottle.

A deep, rich ruby red with the finest garnet-coloured highlights towards the rim, a brilliant lustre without any artificial darkness. On the nose, initially dried sour cherry, blackcurrant and blood orange zest, which, with a little air, unfold into a veritable herbarium: dried Tuscan mountain thyme, black pepper, juniper, damp limestone marl, undergrowth and the subtlest hint of cigar box, with a delicate vein of dark violets and rose hips in the background. The oak remains unobtrusive, lending the body only structure. The initial sip is pure energy and relentless verticality, carried by crystalline, vibrant acidity. The tannins are monumental, tightly woven and chalky-fine-grained, with an aristocratic bite that clings to the edges of the tongue whilst remaining perfectly polished. Sinewy, muscular, wiry – never rich or jammy. On the finish, a burst of salty, chalky minerality explodes, paired with tart sour cherry skin, Earl Grey and fine cocoa, lingering for minutes on end as a pure echo of the terroir. This is no wine for lovers of jammy, sycophantic wines, but rather an intellectual, wonderfully austere giant with enormous ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"This 100% Sangiovese captivates with aromas of dark fruit, dried cherries and spices, underpinned by a consistently very pleasant freshness. The wine comes across as more restrained and vertical than full-bodied, with a fresh acidity that makes it particularly well-suited to food." Wine Advocate

"The 2021 Petresco is a full-bodied, dense red wine. The dark, powerful side of Sangiovese unfolds in the glass. Black cherry, lavender, sage, menthol and liquorice characterise the palate. With a little aeration, the wine's lively, expansive aromas unfold. This is a particularly dense, powerful vintage for the Petresco." Vinous

"A restrained and complex wine with rare depth and vibrancy. Aromas of red and black cherries, licorice, cocoa powder and Earl Grey tea with touches of pepper and ash. Fruit sweetness on the palate, with crisp acidity, a tight-knit structure and firm, extracted yet sleek tannins. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best in two or three years." James Suckling