2018 Perlato del Bosco Rosso

The 2018 Perlato del Bosco is a pure expression of Sangiovese that can be considered its own little island of winemaking within the Tua Rita portfolio. Sangiovese is always a gamble when cultivated within close proximity of the coastline. But in the deft hands of the Tua Rita team, the grape offers a new side that is worlds apart from the aromas and flavors we associate with other celebrated expressions made in Montalcino and Chianti Classico, both located further inland. This wine reminds me of the Poggio Valente by Fattoria Le Pupille (also 100% Sangiovese from Maremma). That's a wine that always punches above its weight, as is this. In fact, both Perlato del Bosco and Poggio Valente are guided by consulting winemaker Luca D'Attoma. This wine is aged in large oak casks (20 hectoliters) to allow for slow and careful integration. Past vintages went into barrique, but one of the big changes recently was to move this wine to bigger, more traditional oak vessels that are better suited to this this sometimes-difficult grape that can easily go flat with too much oxygen. These results speak of Tuscany, and you get wild berries and cherries with some of the brambly, Mediterranean notes that give the wine a lasting sense of place. Some 35,000 bottles were produced, and this wine hits the market in October 2020.