Poderi Sanguineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2023

Poderi Sanguineto 2023, a Nobile true to its roots

There is, in this Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a story of loyalty rather than a race after trends. Podere Sanguineto cultivates a traditional, organic approach, with hand harvesting and minimal-intervention winemaking. I recommend it if you are looking for a Tuscan red with character, shaped by its place and by family continuity.

In Montepulciano, a living tradition

The history of the estate begins in 1963, when Federico Forsoni acquired an agricultural property in the heart of Montepulciano. Cereals were grown there, livestock was raised, and a few rows of vines then produced a wine in small quantities, for the family and friends. His daughter Dora continues this story today by keeping to the course of tradition and the natural winemaking handed down by her father. The estate has chosen not to orient its production toward styles dictated by international fashions.

The 2023 vintage is presented under the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG appellation. The blend combines 80% Sangiovese, called prugnolo gentile in the region, and 20% other red varieties, among them Canaiolo Nero and Mammolo. The vines grow on medium-textured soils of Pliocene origin. Some plots were planted in 1963, others in 1999, 2012 and 2017: a set of different ages that pairs old vines with more recent plantings. The grapes are harvested by hand, then ferment spontaneously, without added yeasts. Maceration lasts eight to ten days, with daily pump-overs. The wine is then aged for two years in large oak casks from Slavonia and Allier, with a capacity of 18 to 30 hectoliters.

The available sources do not detail the color or precise aromas on the nose or palate; I prefer not to invent them. They do, however, place this wine on the side of a profile that is more spicy than strictly fruity, with a wood influence present without dominating and a fairly ample body. These indications give a stylistic reference, not a list of sensations guaranteed in every glass. The announced identity rests above all on the combination of Sangiovese, the terroir of Montepulciano and extended aging in large containers.

At the table, for dishes with character

I would serve it with red meat, game or cured meats, pairings suggested for this wine and consistent with its structured style. It can also accompany white meat or a hamburger, for a convivial meal without ceremony. Open the bottle when you have time to share it at the table and let the wine take its place in the meal. If you enjoy Tuscan reds attached to their grape varieties and traditional methods, this 2023 offers a concrete way to approach the work of Podere Sanguineto.