Staff Notes:
"Dusty cherry and crushed fall leaves evolve slowly into a deeper display of citrus-tinged raspberries, cinnamon and sweet white smoke as the 2018 Rosso Granomelo blossoms in the glass. This seduces with a silky wave of pure, ripe red berries and spices, as brilliant acidity lends vibrancy and saline-mineral tones add a salty flair. The 2018 has energy to burn, coming across as primary and wild, yet also refined. An herbal twang and grippy tannins collect toward the close. It leaves the palate classically dry, caked with an almost-chalky coating; however, it’s mouthwatering all the same. The contrasts here keep you guessing with each tilt of the glass, a mix of sheer drinkability and noble stature. This is a gorgeous glass of Sangiovese. The Granomelo hails from Ficomontanino’s Melogranino vineyard. It goes through spontaneous fermentation with a two-month maceration, and then refines completely in concrete. I’ll be following this wine closely in the vintages to come. A selection of inspired Tuscan wines arrived from Maria Sole at Ficomontanino. This is a 12-hectare property located in the extreme southeast of Tuscany, bordering Umbria and Lazio. In fact, geographically speaking, the climate here is closer to northern Lazio and mountainous Umbria than it is to Tuscany. The vineyards were originally planted by Maria Sole's grandfather in the 1960s, yet winemaking was more of a hobby for him. She took the reins of the family farm from her father after being bitten by the wine bug and was inspired by the likes of Tenute Dettori in Sardinia. Her education at Slow Food’s University of Culinary Arts at Pollenzo is also a huge influence in the winemaking here, choosing natural practices in the vineyards, spontaneous fermentations, long macerations, neutral aging vessels, no fining or filtration, and a minimum use of sulfur. In the end, Maria Sole really seems to be onto something, delivering a transparent and honest representation of terroir." ​93 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous