Exploring 3 Exceptional Italian Red Wines Made from Sangiovese Grapes

Last week, I wrote about three Sicilian red wines made with the same wine grape – nero d’avola.

This week, I thought we would stay in Italy and learn more about even more popular red wine grape – sangiovese.

All three wines featured this week are made with this versatile grape.

What makes these wines even more interesting, I think, is that they’re made by the same winery (Carpineto) but come from three different, distinct wine-growing subregions in Italy’s Tuscany region – Chianti Classico, Montepulciano and Montalcino.

Hope you enjoy.

History of Carpineto Winery

Founded in 1967, Carpineto produces wine from five different estates that include more than 1,200 acres of vineyards in Italy’s Tuscany region – Chianti, Chianti Classico, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and Maremma.

Sangiovese grape

Sangiovese is the most popular and most widely grown wine grape in Italy’s Tuscany region, where this grape has been cultivated since the 1600s, according to “Wine Grapes” by Jancis Robinson, Julia Hardin and Jose Vouillamoz. Hundreds of years later, sangiovese still reigns in Italy, where it’s the most popular wine grape in the country. You can also find significantly smaller amounts of sangiovese vineyards in California, Argentina and many other parts of the world.

Chianti Classico wine region

Located within the Chianti region of Tuscany, Chianti Classico includes seven smaller subregions located between Siena and Florence. In order for a wine to be classified as a Chianti Classico, it must contain at least 80% sangiovese grapes grown in these seven subregions in Chianti between Siena and Florence. Reserved (riserva) Chianti Classico wines like the one recommended this week must also be aged at least 24 months before being bottled.

Montelpulciano wine region

Montelpulicano is another exceptional wine production area in Tuscany, Italy, found south of Chianti. Interestingly, Montepulciano is not only a region but a variety of grape often cultivated in the same region. Wines like the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano derived from this location, by law, must be produced with no less than 70% Sangiovese grapes, blended with other varieties. This includes 10% to 20% of Canaiolo Nero and other local strains like Mammolo. After production, the wine undergoes aging for a minimum of 24 months where 12 have to be spent in oak barrels to earn the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano title.

Montalcino Wine Region

In contrast, Montalcino wines are produced east of Montepulciano, in the Montalcino region of Tuscany. If you’re consuming a Montalcino, chances are it’s a Brunello di Montalcino. Similar to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Brunello di Montalcino is also a “designation of origin”. This, however, is a “Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita”, or DOCG, which implies the wine adheres to even greater standards. That could explain the significantly higher price tag of Brunello di Montalcino relative to other Italian wines. To earn the DOCG title, there is a string of requirements. Among these: the wine must originate from the Montalcino region near Siena, it must exclusively contain Sangiovese grapes, and it has to age in oak barrels for no less than three years.

Wine Tasting Notes

2019 Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva ($28 Suggested Retail Price)

Region: Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

Grapes: 100% sangiovese

Tasting notes: Earthy yet light red wine with intense, powerful fruit flavors that manage to somehow be elegant and intense. Velvet-like flavors range from hints of cherry and plum to flinty notes of dark chocolate and almonds.

2019 Carpineto Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Toscana Reserva ($36 SRP)

Region: Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy

Grapes: 90% sangiovese, 10% canaiolo

Tasting notes: Voluptuous, plump, lively wine with wonderful, earthy, fresh fruit flavors, including hints of cherry and violets. A big, fleshy wine that’s not overpowering with a long, elegant finish that remains vibrant from one taste to the next.

2019 Carpineto Brunello Di Montalcino ($72 SRP)

Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Grapes: 100% sangiovese

Tasting notes: Dense, dark, intense red wine bursting with big, beautiful flavors, including generous helpings of blackberry, cherry, raspberry and black licorice. Flinty at times with a dry, elegant finish, this wine tastes great now and will age gracefully for decades as well.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!