Boscarelli Sotto Casa Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2021

Boscarelli Sotto Casa, the soul of a single plot

In the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2021, the name Sotto Casa refers to a plot located right next to Boscarelli's winery. I recommend this wine for its roots in a specific place and its patient aging: here, Sangiovese prugnolo gentile leads the blend, accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

A plot in Montepulciano, inherited within the family

In Montepulciano, Tuscany, Sotto Casa is a cru from a single vineyard, described as stony and rich in red clay of alluvial origin. The Boscarelli estate was founded in 1962 by Egidio Corradi, who wanted to restore Montepulciano's former winemaking reputation. His daughter Paola Corradi and her husband Ippolito De Ferrari later developed the project, before Luca and Nicolò De Ferrari today continue this work plot by plot. This family history gives the wine a concrete context: an estate that seeks to express its places rather than blend them into an anonymous identity.

The 2021 vintage blends 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and then gently pressed. Fermentation takes place separately in oak vats, with indigenous yeasts, at controlled temperature. It lasts about ten days, with manual pump-overs and punch-downs; the maceration can then extend for five to eight days. The lots mature separately in French or Slavonian oak barrels. The vintage sheet indicates 28 months in barrels, before blending and rest in bottle.

For tasting, the available information remains measured: the wine is presented as red, structured and elegant, with an expression of its terroir. The color is not described more precisely, and no detailed nose or palate notes are provided, so I prefer not to promise you particular aromas. The announced profile leans toward spice, with a noticeable influence of barrel aging and a medium body on the proposed scales. This suggests a well-constructed table wine, without these benchmarks replacing a personal tasting.

At the table, for food with character

I would serve it with red meat, game or charcuterie, the suggested pairings for this Riserva. Blue cheeses and rice dishes are also among the possible options: it's up to you to choose according to the intensity of the dish and the mood of the meal. Its 28 months in barrels and structured profile invite you to give it a little time in the glass, without making it a ceremony. For a generous table where you take the time to talk about the wine and its place of origin, this Sotto Casa offers a thoughtful way to approach Montepulciano.