Rare wines. Unexpected Sangiovese and Merlot from Tuscany.

Feb 16 2023, 11:00 | by Gambero Rosso

We set off for Montalcino and Bolgheri to discover two wines 100 percent Tuscan, but with an unusual soul. The first is not a Brunello, but a Merlot, and the second is a Sangiovese from the Tuscan land of international grape varieties.

This time we're in southern Tuscany precisely Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci, then inland to Montalcino. Touching from the great international grapes of the Bolgheri area to the prestigious Sangiovese. But let's reverse the factors to discover an incredible Sangiovese from Bolgheri and an equally valid (and fascinating) Merlot from Montalcino.

Yes, that's right, to demonstrate that some territories can give great wines even outside of their chosen locations, provided that behind them there are good, expert, aware and above all sensitive winemakers who perceive the behaviour of a specific grape in a precise vineyard and with a suitable microclimate.

Lo Scudiere Sangiovese 2020 is produced by Fabio Motta, already defined as the rising star of Bolgheri viticulture and always in love with Sangiovese, thanks to the teachings of his great master Michele Satta. The other is the Come se Merlot 2008 that comes from a small vineyard in Montalcino.

aThe winery is Il Colle, born in 1972, managed by Caterina Carli. It was her father who wanted to plant a few rows of merlot, a variety that Caterina never liked, especially when the wines obtained from this grape are quite young. Hence the idea of releasing them more than ten years after the harvest, for a more complex, mature and multifaceted expression of merlot. With the 2008 vintage for us this goal is achieved!

Rare Wines. A Merlot and Sangiovese from Tuscany to discover

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Come se Merlot 2008

Il Colle di Carli

Tuscany

red

Score:

/100

VINEYARD | "Come Se" comes from a few rows that were planted by Caterina Carli's father in the 1990s. If Caterina's father was convinced of that choice, Caterina still shows her perplexities today, not on the good quality of these grapes, rather on the characteristics that merlot offers in the glass. It all comes from a small vineyard facing south-east, located at an altitude of 230 metres. The yields do not exceed 30 quintals/hectare, the soil is of clayey origin, but there are also calcareous and sandy sediments and gives birth to wines of character, authentic and very long-lived.PERSON | Caterina Carli was born in 1972, exactly when the Il Colle company was born, founded by her father. Her life...

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Lo Scudiere 2020

Fabio Motta

Tuscany

red

Score:

/100

VINEYARD | Small parcel that is part of the Vigna Le Pievi, trained according to the Guyot system and located 50 metres above sea level. Fabio Motta's love for Sangiovese is well known and Lo Scudiere is a tribute to the renowned red Il Cavaliere produced in Bolgheri by Michele Satta. Understandably, since Fabio has always worked with Sangiovese and finally decided to produce one in purity. The soil is sandy and clayey sedimentary, the exposure is South-West.PERSON | "Fabio Motta is one of Bolgheri's most interesting young winemakers, capable of a clear and increasingly convincing path." So stated the 2019 Vini d'Italia guide and now, 4 years later, we can say that that path has been even more defined...