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 an 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 premier and most abundantly grown wine grape in Italy’s Tuscany region. “Wine Grapes”, a book by authors Jancis Robinson, Julia Hardin, and Jose Vouillamoz, brings to light that the cultivation of this grape dates back as far as the 1600s. In the present day, Sangiovese is unparalleled in popularity among Italian wine grapes. Apart from Italy, Sangiovese vineyards can be discovered on a much smaller scale in regions like California, Argentina, and various locations globally.

The Chianti Classico Wine Region

Situated within the broader Chianti region of Tuscany is the Chianti Classico. This area is composed of seven minor subregions set between Siena and Florence. A wine earns the classification of a Chianti Classico when it preserves a minimum of 80% sangiovese grapes, with these grapes grown in the seven subregions of Chianti — nestled between Siena and Florence. Additionally, higher grade Chianti Classico wines, also referred to as Riserva wines, must undergo a maturation process for at least 24 months prior to being bottled.

The Montelpulciano Wine Region

Montelpulicano is another remarkable wine-growing area in Tuscany, Italy, situated south of Chianti. Interestingly, montepulciano is also a type of grape typically found in the Montelpulciano region. Wines labeled as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, such as the one suggested this week, originate from Tuscany’s Montepulciano area and must contain at least 70% sangiovese grapes. Moreover, a mix of other grapes, including 10% to 20% canaiolo nero and local varieties like mammolo, is used. The wine must be matured for at least 24 months, with 12 months spent in oak barrels, to bear the title Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine.

Montalcino wine region

Montalcino wines hail from the Montalcino region in Tuscany, located east of Montepulciano. If you’re savoring a Montalcino wine, chances are it’s a Brunello di Montalcino. Much like Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Brunello di Montalcino has a “designation of origin”. However, Brunello di Montalcino is a “Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita” or DOCG, signifying that the wine adheres to higher standards. This is likely why Brunello di Montalcino is often pricier than other Italian wines. To be branded a Brunello di Montalcino with the DOCG badge, the wine must meet strict criteria: it must be produced in Montalcino, near Siena, Italy; it must be crafted solely with sangiovese grapes; and, it must be aged in oak barrels for at least 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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