Tenuta di Carleone Il Guercio 2023

Il Guercio 2023, the singular Sangiovese of Carleone

Il Guercio 2023 draws attention with an approach that puts Sangiovese and its origin front and center: a high-altitude plot, organic farming, and aging in concrete tanks. I also love its story, tied to Sean O’Callaghan’s singular take on Tuscany and to a nickname that gives the wine an immediately recognizable identity.

Gaiole, Radda and the spirit of Tenuta di Carleone

Tenuta di Carleone came into being in 2012 in Radda in Chianti, in the province of Siena. The project is carried by Sean O’Callaghan and his friend Karl Egger. Originally from England, Sean trained in oenology in Germany before settling in Tuscany. According to the estate’s account, his knowledge of local terroirs and microclimates feeds his attachment to Sangiovese. Il Guercio, which means “the one-eyed” in Italian, is an affectionate nickname given to Sean, who has been blind in his right eye since birth.

For the 2023 vintage, the wine falls under the IGP Toscana and comes from a plot located in Gaiole in Chianti, at 700 meters of altitude. It is made from 100% Sangiovese, grown according to organic and biodynamic principles; organic farming is confirmed. In the cellar, the grapes ferment in concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts. The description indicates five months of vinification, with 20% of the grapes fermented with their stems, followed by one year of aging in the same containers. The choice of concrete supports the pursuit of freshness and respect for the fruit, with no barrel aging mentioned. The wine is bottled without filtration or fining, with minimal added sulfites.

The available information gives no precise notes on color, nose, or palate aromas, and I prefer not to lend it any. The sheet nonetheless places Il Guercio halfway between fruity and spicy, with a medium-bodied structure. It also places it between youthfulness and aging marked by wood: a reference to read with nuance, since the aging described here takes place in concrete. These indications sketch a red where the fruit keeps its place, accompanied by a spicy dimension, without claiming to detail sensations that are not documented.

At the table, without complicating the moment

I would pair it with red or white meats, game, charcuterie, or soft-paste cheeses, pairings suggested for this wine. A seasonal table, a few simple dishes, and time to let the Sangiovese express itself will suit its profile. If you are looking for a Tuscan bottle whose identity rests on the grape variety, the altitude, and concrete vinification rather than on emphatic tasting notes, Il Guercio 2023 deserves a place at your table. Serve it at a shared meal, and take the time to form your own opinion.