The Sangiovese "Vigna delle Sanzioni 2023" earned a Platinum Debut at the Merano Wine Festival.

The Sangiovese Riserva 2023 "Vigna delle Sanzioni", Valdarno di Sopra DOC, produced by the eponymous winery in Loro Ciuffenna (Arezzo), led since 2022 by siblings Paola and Giandomenico Gigante, made a true Platinum debut at this year's Merano WineFestival. The wine was awarded the "WineHunter Platinum Award" with the highest score, above 95/100, following a selection process carried out by fourteen judging panels, coordinated by Helmut Kocher, patron of the event.

Sangiovese Riserva is made from 90% Sangiovese grapes, to which are added 3% Canaiolo, a native Tuscan grape, and 7% Grand Noir de la Calmette, an international grape variety that gives intensity to the wine's color.

The wine comes from a historic vineyard, planted in 1934 along the Strada dei Setteponti in the Valdarno di Sopra. Its advanced age contributes to the wine's complexity, thanks to its well-developed roots and naturally low yields. The terraced vineyard, with dry stone walls, is an example of heroic viticulture. The altitude, between 300 and 360 meters, favors optimal temperature ranges, ideal for the aromatic development and acidity of the Sangiovese, while the southern and southwest exposure guarantees prolonged exposure to sunlight and perfect grape ripening.

Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in temperature-controlled concrete vats, preserving the Sangiovese's fruity freshness and aromatic purity. Maceration on the skins is prolonged until optimal extraction of color, structure, and complex aromas is achieved.

The wine then spends 18 months in French oak barrels, allowing for gradual oxygenation and a balanced integration of all its components, enhancing the grape's inherent delicacy. It then ages in bottle for at least six months before being released.

An intense ruby red in color with purple highlights that shift toward garnet with age, the wine opens with notes of ripe red fruit (cherry, blackberry, plum), enriched with floral hints of violet and iris. Complex nuances of spice and sweet tobacco follow, with a lingering balsamic and mineral finish.

On the palate, it is structured and harmonious, with elegant, silky tannins that lend a velvety sensation and remarkable persistence. The acidity, typical of Sangiovese, balances the richness of the fruit and contributes to its longevity. The finish is long and savory, with a pleasant return of fruity and spicy notes.

The Vigna delle Sanzioni has great architectural value because it was designed by Marcello Piacentini, one of the leading exponents of rationalist architecture, which was prevalent in Italy and Europe in the 1930s, with the assistance of Vittorio Racah, Professor of Ampelography at the University of Florence. The vineyard was planted so that the rows harmoniously follow the contours of the land on which they are planted.

Its central section is traversed by a long staircase leading to the panoramic terrace at the top of the slope. It took its name from its inauguration during a period when Italy, having militarily attacked Ethiopia for colonial purposes, was under international sanctions, and the regime's propaganda aimed to assert, with this and other initiatives, the country's capacity for self-sufficiency.

"Buying Vigna delle Sanzioni," comment Paola and Giandomenico, "was the fulfillment of a dream, and winning the WineHunter Platinum Award with our first wine was astonishing, even though we had blind faith in its potential. Our priority is Vigna delle Sanzioni. Allowing it to remain what it is: inimitable and unique, yet at the same time defenseless and fragile, in need of care, attention, and expertise. And this is our primary concern: making wines that live up to this vineyard's potential."

In addition to the Sangiovese Riserva, “Vigna delle Sanzioni” also produces the white Trebbiano Riserva, obtained from 90% Trebbiano grapes, integrated with 6% Malvasia Bianca and 4% Canaiolo.