
Scarànto 2018
Award Winner
Luca Maroni
98pts Points – 2019 IT
This is our most exciting Tuscan red in years. It hails from special vineyards in the Conca d’Oro (golden conch) – a hallowed, shell-shaped slope in the heart of Chianti Classico – right next door to Fontodi, whose flagship red costs over $100 a bottle.
Scarànto is the first solo project from the hugely talented Matteo Bernabei. He works alongside his legendary father, Franco – dubbed “Mr. Sangiovese” by the Italian press – as a consultant to some of Italy’s top estates (like the aforementioned Fontodi).
For this exclusive, barrel-aged Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese (70%) and Merlot (30%), he used the traditional governo method. After hand harvesting the fruit in September, he held back a small amount of Sangiovese grapes, air-drying them until December. Called leggermente appassito, these raisined grapes are added to the wine for a flavor-boosting secondary fermentation.
Over to Italy’s top critic, Luca Maroni, on what you can expect in the glass:
“One of the best red wines of the year. An extraordinary wine of exceptional richness. This full wine reveals the essence of fruit - dark cherries and blackberries and warm herbs. The palate is soft and supple. Sublime, admirable, harmonious, and at the same time of exceptional expressive power. 98 points.”
Country |
Italy |
Varietal |
Sangiovese Based Blend |
Region |
Tuscany and Central |
Alcohol |
14.0% |
Volume |
750ML |
Vintage |
2018 |