San Giusto a Rentennano ‘Percarlo’ Sangiovese Toscana IGT 2018

A dense, tightly wound red, with tar, olive and tobacco aromas giving way to dusty cherry and plum flavors. Vibrant and firms up on the mineral-laden finish. A bit angular now, yet with fine potential. Best from 2024 through 2040. 850 cases made, 200 cases imported.

The organic 2018 Percarlo is all Sangiovese from a special 30-hectare site that sees a mix of typical Tuscan soils at a breezy 270 meters in elevation. Before oak aging, the wine is fermented in a combination of stainless steel and cement. Percarlo reveals a luxuriously rich and dense quality. The wine's profound intensity is built by deep fruit and elegant mineral etchings. The bouquet is outstanding. However, the only distraction is the dry or powdery tannin that I enjoyed to a lesser extent (with the powerful 15% alcohol content). Exactly 18,352 bottles were made, with various large formats included in that number

Essentially a co-fermentation of Canaiolo Nero with Sangiovese, owner and winemaker Luca Martini di Cigala adds about 3% whole clusters to the cap as soon as fermentation starts in order to maintain freshness. The 2018 demonstrates the acute warmth of this pocket in Gaiole. It is distinct and singular in its aromas of baked clay, vanilla, sweet spice, prune, plum and dried orange blossom. The palate is concentrated, with intense, saline minerality and dense red cherry shored up by resolute dry, sandy tannins. It has an intriguing bitter chinotto finish.

The 2018 Percarlo is another fabulous wine in this range from San Giusto. Ample and creamy, the 2018 dazzles with its total sense of finesse. In 2018, Percarlo is silky, gracious and super-refined. Time in the glass brings out attractive floral and spice overtones that lend brightness. It shows remarkably well for a wine that was bottled only recently. The 2018 was aged in a combination of 30HL casks and 500-liter tonneaux.

Bright ruby colour. Finely drawn nose, only reveals its full depth with repeated sniffing, some preserved cherry, blackberry and ripe plum, plus fine tobacco notes. Lots of dense tannins on the palate, compact and gripping, dark fruit, dark chocolate on the finish, still needs a lot of maturity, very good certain ageing potential.

Ripe and concentrated, it displays notes of black plums, blackberries, sweet caramel, bay leaves, cloves and juniper berries. Full body, smooth and decidedly silky in the sip it closes sustained, radiant and engaging. Drink now.