Poggio Valente Toscana Rosso IGT 2018 Le Pupille

Tasted from vat, the Fattoria le Pupille 2018 Poggio Valente is an elegant expression of Sangiovese with just a hint of the freewheeling wildness that characterizes the Maremma region of southern Tuscany. The wine delivers cherry, wild rose, forest fruit and blueberry. Beyond those primary tones are integrated notes of spice and mild tobacco. The wine is put together with careful precision, and all it needs now is more aging time in order to flesh out and build depth. Everything is set, just give it time.

This is a terrific set of wines from Fattoria le Pupille. The 2018 Saffredi offers an accurate and classic expression of the vintage. As it so happens, I have recently had the opportunity to re-taste several bottles of the 2016 Saffredi (which I awarded 98 points) at various masterclasses and events I have guided. Coming back to that wine, I now detect a hint of animal musk that seems to have developed in the bottle. I'll record that comment here, but I look forward to revisiting that vintage in a more formal manner at the next opportunity.

Really pretty balance and focus to this red with plums, berries, cherries, currants and hints of vanilla and hazelnuts. It’s medium-to full-bodied with refined tannins and a clean, fruity finish. Very elegant. Pure sangiovese. So drinkable now. Why wait? Drink or hold.