Grillesino Morellino di Scansano 2013

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Big & Bold
Country of Origin:	Italy
Wine Region:	Tuscany
Appellation:	Scansano
Grape Varietal:	Sangiovese
Bottle Format:	750mL
Case Size:	6 bottles
$146.70 Per Case ($24.45/btl)

Tasting Notes

Bolgheri may have claimed the Cabernet crown in this maritime part of southern Tuscany known as Maremma, but Scansano remains it’s most promising zone for Sangiovese. Azienda Il Grillesino was founded in 1997, specializing in the local clone of Sangiovese, known as Morellino. The estate now consists of three vineyards: eleven hectares in Grancia, fifteen hectares in Magliano, and a new seventeen-hectare development next to the winery.
The soil of Scansano is more acidic than that of Chianti, which gives a correspondingly less acidic, rounder wine. The wine underwent a temperature-controlled fermentation with gentle extraction, and was bottle unoaked in the spring following the vintage. A wine of intense colour, full bodied with generous flavours hinting of blackberry and blackcurrant to the nose and an attractive spicy aroma.

Critical Praise

“Morellino” is a grape that is technically a strain of Sangiovese; call it a “kissing cousin”. It is cultivated in the Scansano area, South Tuscany, about 20 miles east of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Legend has it that the grape was given its name because the brown hue of the grapes is similar the color of the Marmmano horses. The long, hot growing seasons that occur in Scansano allow grapes to fully ripen with high sugar levels; and, in turn, produce wines rich in fruit and solid in structure. This has made Morellino di Scansano Tuscany’s best-kept secret.
We make our Morellino fresh and welcoming, with immediately enjoyable, soft, cherry/ berry Sangiovese fruit. An expressive, attractive nose with black cherry, plum and black fruit aromas, along with a definite vegetal element (green peppers) and some earthy hints. On the palate it immediately tastes rich, ripe black cherry and berry flavors that blend into a pleasant tartness. Tannins are soft at first, then firm up in the lengthy, balanced finish which exudes ample acidity and a final punch of black fruit. It drinks well with a ham sandwich, with a hamburger, with a steak, with mushrooms. Perfect also with ragù pasta, or try it withGoat’s milk cheese.
Our Morellino di Scansano is not especially tannic (as the Riserva or the Ceccante) so we suggest to drink it young; suggested 5 years maximum. It is best within 2 years of bottling.