“Poggio Valente” Rosso Toscana IGT 2023

Fattoria Le Pupille | Tuscany
Az. Agr. Fattoria Le Pupille | Piagge Del Maiano 92 A | IT 58100 Grosseto

09232223 · 0,75 l · 42,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

In 1996, Elisabetta Geppetti bought a slope near Pereta. She called it Poggio Valente – the valiant hill, the brave hill. A name that says it all. The site lies at 280 metres, facing south-west, on sandy soils over sandstone rocks with clay inlays – a soil that gives the Sangiovese precision and elegance rather than weight and vigour. Elisabetta wanted something different here: a single-varietal Sangiovese cru in the Burgundian style, a wine that speaks its vineyard and nothing else. In 2014, she made a consistent decision: Poggio Valente left the Morellino appellation and has since appeared as a Toscana IGT. Not a step backwards – quite the opposite. A statement. This wine is bigger than its designation of origin, and Elisabetta did not want the lack of international recognition of an appellation to limit its ambition.

In 2019, her son Ettore, a trained Oenologist from Pisa, took over responsibility for the vineyard and cellar. The Poggio Valente 2023 is his best vintage to date. 30 to 35 days of maceration in steel at a controlled temperature, then 15 months in 500 and 600-litre French oak Liters. No wood imprint, just structure and depth.

Bright ruby red in the glass with delicate garnet reflections. The nose is multi-layered and of an elegance that cannot be taken for granted in the Maremma: red rose petals, black cherry, blood orange, blackberry, juniper berry, a subtle undertone of wild maquis, herbs and forest undergrowth. Full-bodied and dense on the palate, with silky tannins that reveal the long maceration times, lively Sangiovese acidity and a long, spicy finish. A wine that is already seductive today – and still has years ahead of it. SUPERIORE.DE

"Youthful, tightly wound and chewy, the 2023 is nonetheless generously fruited with some pretty cherry and strawberry. The wood imprint is still dominant, so give it time to harmonise and unfurl." Decanter

"A solid and beautiful red with aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, sage, rosemary and thyme. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and firm tannins that give this length and deliciousness. Pure sangiovese. You can drink it now, but it will be better in three or four years." James Suckling

"Made with 100% Sangiovese, the 2023 Poggio Valente was bottled in June 2025. The 2023 vintage was challenging across much of Tuscany due to persistent spring rain and widespread mildew pressure that severely affected Merlot and other early-ripening grapes, but conditions in southern Maremma were more balanced thanks to the area’s naturally ventilated setting. Poggio Valente benefits from its position between two hills with the sea directly in front, creating constant airflow and a luminous quality to the wines. The Sangiovese is planted on heavier soils rich in clay and limestone, lending structure and depth, and the estate is in the process of refining its élevage by moving away from smaller oak toward larger vessels, with more than 50% of the wine now aged in botti grandi to achieve a crunchier and more transparent expression. The plan for this wine is working out beautifully." Wine Advocate