San Giusto a Rentennano, Percarlo Sangiovese, Tuscany, Italy, 2018

Overview of the Wine
The estate of San Giusto a Rentennano has undergone many transformations over the course of its history, with an inaugural period as a medieval monastery (San Giusto alle Monache). Its vocation changed drastically in the 9th century, when the Florentines adapted the structure for protection against the Sienese, equipping it to serve as a fortress. (Florence and Siena were engaged in a centuries-long battle, reaching a resolution only in the 15th century.)

The Ricasoli family of Chianti Classico fame (Baron Bettino Ricasoli authored the original formula for Chianti in 1874) presided over the estate for several centuries, with Enrico Martini di Cigala assuming ownership in 1957. It is presently overseen by three of Cigala’s children—Franceso, Luca, and Elisabetta. The estate—which is situated in the Gaiole zone of the Chianti appellation—comprises 160 hectares, 30.5 of which are planted to vines, and benefits from a microclimate marked by a dramatic fluctuation between day and night temperatures.

Percarlo—a monovarietal Sangiovese—debuted with the 1983 vintage and currently enjoys status as San Giusto a Rentennano’s most renowned bottling. It derives from low-yielding vines representing six cru sites that feature ancient soils of sand and stone, and a clay foundation. As Percarlo is crafted as a wine of considerable concentration, the grapes utilized ripen beyond the mature stage. Its stylistic orientation is born out further through the vinification regimen, which entails a fairly extensive maceration of 18 days, followed by barrique aging for a period of 20 to 22 months. It is bottled unfiltered and ages for an additional 6 months in bottle prior to being released. With peers such as Flaccianello and Cepparello, Percarlo operates in Sangiovese’s cult realm. Its minute production level (approximately 1,600 cases per year) derives, in part, from a highly regimented grape selection process: In some vintages, the entire grape production is deemed unfit.

Grape / Blend
100% Sangiovese

Origin
Tuscany, Italy

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Percarlo is made from 100% estate grown Sangiovese grapes, especially selected bunch per bunch, from the best zones of our vineyards, which have a low yield of 1 Kg grapes per vine.

97 Points - Vinous
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. (AG)

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 
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.

94 Points - Wine Spectator
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.

Product size: 750ml