Sangiovese

Overview

Sangiovese is Italy’s most planted red grape and the backbone of Tuscany’s finest wines — Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. It is a high-acid, medium-to-high tannin variety producing wines with characteristic red and dark cherry fruit, dried oregano, tobacco, gamebird, earthy-mineral soil tones, and violet/rose floral notes. At its best, Sangiovese produces wines of extraordinary elegance and longevity; Brunello di Montalcino (from the Brunello clone) is among Italy’s most age-worthy wines, rivaling Barolo and Barbaresco. VFTC #117 covers multiple Chianti Classico (Querciabella), Brunello di Montalcino (Il Marroneto, Castiglion del Bosco, Bartoli Giusti), and Rosso di Montalcino producers.

Key Regions

• Chianti Classico — DOCG; historic Florentine hills between Florence and Siena; Greve, Radda, Gaiole, Castelnuovo Berardenga; Querciabella is a reference point
• Brunello di Montalcino — DOCG; purest Sangiovese expression (Brunello/Sangiovese Grosso clone); extreme aging capacity (20–50+ years); Il Marroneto, Castiglion del Bosco, Bartoli Giusti, Fattoria dei Barbi
• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano — DOCG; Prugnolo Gentile clone; Montepulciano township; excellent but less prestigious than Brunello
• Morellino di Scansano — DOC, Maremma; Morellino clone; more accessible, earlier-drinking
• Rosso di Toscana / Super Tuscans — e.g., Camartina (Querciabella; Sangiovese/Cab Sauv blend); Tignanello; many use Sangiovese as backbone

Style Notes

Chianti Classico: Red cherry, dried oregano, tobacco, earthy minerality. Three quality levels: Normale (1 year minimum aging), Riserva (2+ years including 3 months in bottle), Gran Selezione (single-vineyard, 30+ months including 3 months bottle). The best Gran Selezioni need 10–15 years of cellaring (e.g., Querciabella Ruffoli 2019: 95 pts, 2035–2075).

Brunello di Montalcino: The Brunello clone produces wines of extraordinary concentration and longevity. Classical style: red and black cherries, violets, rose petals, gamebird, nutskin (with age), spit-roasted pigeon, beautiful soil tones. Minimum 5 years aging before release (10 for Riserva). Peak often 20–30+ years. The 1970 Fattoria dei Barbi Normale tasted in VFTC #117 at 55 years was “stellar Brunello at the peak of its powers” (95 pts, 2025–2045).

Synonyms

• Brunello — Montalcino clone; used only in Brunello di Montalcino
• Prugnolo Gentile — Montepulciano clone; Vino Nobile
• Morellino — Maremma/Scansano
• Nielluccio — Corsica (same or closely related variety)

My Tastings

(none yet)

Sources

• VFTC #117 (John Gilman, May-June 2025), pages 102–129 — Chianti Classico (Querciabella: 3 vintages), Brunello di Montalcino (Il Marroneto 2020, Castiglion del Bosco 2019 Riserva, 1970 Fattoria dei Barbi), older Chianti (Ruffino 1990, Brolio 1971, Antinori 1970, Ruffino 1961)