Podere Il Carnasciale 'Ottantadue' Valdarno di Sopra 2022

$31.99 on 6+ (code: 6saves2)

100% Sangiovese

92 pts Vinous Media
The 2022 Ottantadue (Sangiovese) is gorgeous. Bright, floral and super-expressive, the Ottantadue shows the fresher side of Sangiovese. A dollop of whole clusters (20%) works so well here. The inspiration is clearly Beaujolais. Although an unusual wine, the Ottantadue is an absolute delight. The Ottantadue is fermented in cement and aged in steel, an approach that exalts fruit and freshness. This is such a beautiful wine.  - By Antonio Galloni on June 2024

If Sangiovese took the form of red Burgundy or Pinot Noir, this wine would be the place to start. Purity of varietal character and terroir transparency.

I visited Il Carnasciale back in June 2017, we were met by the Carnasciale enologist Marco Maffei and winemaker Peter Schilling. Peter showed us the home vineyard "Carnasciale", healthy and green in the warm June sun with shoots and leaves rising up from the small goblet trained old wood of the vines.

As a treat, we also got to taste a new third wine made from 100% Sangiovese called Ottantadue from the 2015 vintage. This was also very good, but clearly a different grape and a different spin on Sangiovese. In a clear glass bottle that reveals a pure, vibrant red color, it is a stripped-down, pure version of Sangiovese, unlike anything I have ever tried. The Ottantadue showed little influence of wood and instead focused on the fruit, spice, texture and raw components of Sangiovese.

• Grapes: 100% Sangiovese
• Soil: planted at 150-175 meters in limestone soils with chalk and sandy components
• Vinification: Vinified in stainless steel
• Maturation: Stainless steel tank aging for 14 months to preserve the core sangiovese character