Rosso Conestabile 2017

Rosso Conestabile is 100% Sangiovese grown on the outskirts of Montemelino, in the province of Perugia, Umbria. The vineyards sit at 250 to 300 meters above sea level on clay soils over a calcareous base, planted in the early 1970s and never treated with chemicals. Lake Trasimeno lies nearby, moderating temperatures and extending the growing season with gentle summer breezes and mild winters.

In the cellar, winemaker Danilo Marcucci keeps intervention to a minimum. The grapes are de-stemmed and macerated on the skins for 4 days before pressing. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts, no temperature control, and no added sulfur. The wine ages in fiberglass tanks and is bottled without fining or filtration.

The result is a light, fresh Sangiovese that reads more like a cool-climate red than a sun-baked Central Italian one. Expect tart cherry, orange peel, tomato leaf, and a clean pomegranate-edged finish. At 12.5% ABV, it drinks easily and works well slightly chilled.