“Lustrous deep ruby. Rich raspberry. Intense nose with chalky, minerally hints and a smoky touch. Lots of sweet juicy raspberry fruit on the palate and coating tannins. Deserves more time.”

“Lustrous ruby with bricky rim. Deep, concentrated fruit nose with savoury oak and hints of liquorice. Lots of savoury-sweet tangy cherry fruit on the palate with just the right dose of chewy tannins. Quite a big finish and can be approached now.”

Darkly floral and earthy in character, the 2021 Rosso di Montalcino Gauggiole opens with notes of crushed rocks, ground ginger, rosemary and sour cherry. This is round and wonderfully juicy in character. A tinge of minerality up front adds tension as ripe wild berry fruits cascade throughout. Long and perfumed, this finishes lightly structured and classically dry.

“Winemaker Cecilia Leoneschi observed the unhurried growing season of 2019 echoed in slow and gradual fermentations. For the estate’s 1.5 hectare cru Brunello she increased the percentage of whole cluster from 30 to 60% keeping the maceration time to 18 days to avoid excessive tannin extraction. In the glass, the wine evokes the forest after a drenching when the sun starts to dry out the vegetation. Warm cedar, porcini and licorice root aromas are heady. Dense and concentrated, the palate is weighty in red summer berries, yet the structure is tight. Chewy tannins provide an essential girdle. Oak-derived vanilla notes pervade, though hints of leather and gamey meat portent what is to come as this evolves..”

“Berry aromas with fresh herbs, such as lemon grass and basil, from the mostly whole-berry fermentation. Lots of fresh flowers, too. Medium body with a solid core of fruit and very fine tannins that are polished and beautifully curated. Lovely presence and harmony. So drinkable now, but even better in 2027.”