Monte Antico Rosso 2019

This is a delicious Tuscan red made of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Monte Antico means 'Ancient Mountain,' and the wine is made from hillside vineyards with at least 25 years of age from Pisa, Maremma and Chianti Classico. Monte Antico is the proprietary label of respected Italian wine importers, Neil and Maria Empson who have been promoting Italian wines for over 30 years. Their winemaker is Franco Bernabei who fashions the wines from vineyards which have the perfect combination of complex soils including fine limestone, rich clay, and the famous Tuscan galestro (a unique rocky soil). Although this is considered a Super Tuscan, due to the addition of Cab and Merlot, we thought it tasted traditionally Italian, and that the expression of Sangiovese was perfectly enhanced by the Bordeaux varieties. It has warm aromas of red fruits, vanilla and hints of spice and earth with more of the same on the palate. Serve with pasta, pizza, steak and arugula salad, or after-dinner with fine Italian cheeses.