Piandorino Toscana IGT 2018 (0.75l)

The Piandorino is Pian dell' Orino's entry-level wine. It comes from 20-year-old vines from the Pian Bassolino and Pian dell' Orino vineyards, located 300-500 meters above sea level. After rigorous manual selection of the grapes, spontaneous fermentation takes place for 12 days under oxygen-free conditions, followed by 20 months in large, neutral oak barrels. An initial dark, earthy spiciness is followed by the finest, delicate red fruit with sweet, black extract. Woody notes and undergrowth, along with leather and tobacco, followed by red and black cherries. The bouquet dances back and forth between spice and fruit, yet everything is utterly fragrant and delicate, never overpowering, playing in finely chiseled tones. A fresh attack on the palate, with radiant acidity and saltiness, followed by plenty of cherry, sour and sweet, with ethereal eucalyptus, but the bright, fresh, red fruit character dominates. Present tannins give the Piandorino structure; here the Sangiovese reveals itself in a rare, elegant, lean, yet highly intense character. The structure of the wine is immediately reminiscent of a Burgundy Pinot or even northern Italy, Nebbiolo and Piedmont. The aroma, however, is unmistakably Tuscan. It has a wonderful arc of tension, challenges the palate, and currently needs plenty of air to unfold this wonderful range of aromas. Then, on the palate, a fascinating interplay develops between lively acidity and a soft, velvety texture, which will become increasingly velvety and silky with further bottle ageing, as the tannins promote an increasingly smooth character. A great introduction to the Sangiovese world by Carolin Pobitzer & Jan Erbach!