A stunning new Tuscan find - 2020 Petresco, Le Cinciole

A stunning new Tuscan find - 2020 Petresco, Le Cinciole

A stunning new Tuscan find - 2020 Petresco, Le Cinciole

It remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Italy. Magnificent.
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, June 2024

2020 Petresco, Le Cinciole
£225 per 6 bottle case in bond


I knew nothing of this estate until I read up on it a few weeks ago. Having tasted the hugely impressive, Petresco 2020 this morning, I am now wondering where it has been all my life!

Anyone who has followed my ramblings over the years will know that I have a soft spot for many pure Tuscan Sangiovese. I championed the merits of Percarlo from San Giusto a Rentennano, Le Pergole Torte from Montevertine as well as Flaccianello from Fontodi, long before they became fashionable. Unfortunately, I don’t get as much time as I might like to seek out new wines from Tuscany, but when I come across wines with the quality of the 2020 Petresco, I am ready to clear the diary and book the flights.

Le Cinciole (pronounced chin-chee-oh-lay) in Panzano, not a vast distance from Fontodi in the heart of Chianti. The name is a corruption of ‘Le Terre di Quintius’ (the lands of Quintius), with this area being known as such for centuries. The estate extends over 30 hectares, split between vines and olive groves. Ten hectares are dedicated to vines, with the vineyards lying at an altitude of 430 to 500 metres, facing south-east. The current owners, Valeria and Luca Vigano took over the estate in the early 1990s and embarked on a replanting program, expanded and renovated the cellar and developed a fully sustainable approach to their energy usage.

The soil is Galestro, effectively a fragmented sedimentary rock which includes a significant amount of clay minerals – effectively a type of slate over Pietraforte sandstone. This fine grained, softe textured soil is a crucial part of the key to quality here. While they produce a highly regarded Chianti Classico, the Petresco is produced from special selection of Sangiovese coming from a single vineyard at 470 metres of altitude, which the owners consider to be the best located vineyard within their holding. It is a small production wine with just 5000 bottles produced on average per annum. It has been produced for the last 20 years.

Petresco is given an extended elevage – initially fermented in cement vats, then racked into small French oak barriques where it remains for 24 months, then it spends another year in cement vats before bottling. This unhurried elevage tames the young Sangiovese somewhat and brings out the complexity in the young wine.

This is a remarkable wine – different to Percarlo that has a lighter redder fruit profile, and a livelier sense of acidity. Different to Flaccianello than can be hard to get to grips with in its youth on account of its firm nature.  I really love the way that the fruit is so clearly underscored by this mineral vein, yet it is masked by such beautifully, pure layered fruit. Given how many 100% Sangiovese, from the estates mentioned above, have moved in price on account of a constant stream of impressive notes and scores, this also has the advantage of being an absolute bargain.

Please see my note from today and Antonio Galloni’s glowing endorsement from last year below. We are very much on the same page.

2020 Petresco, Le Cinciole
£225 per 6 bottle case in bond

My note from today:

Deep garnet in hue, the aromas gradually emerge from the glass with a scented, gently minty nuanced red and blue fruit character. Subtly floral, there is a cool, mineral nuance too that is immediately intriguing. With a wealth of streamlined fruit on the palate, this beautiful Sangiovese is some wine. Layered, vibrant with that minty quality adding complexity to a juicy, dark red berry fruit, with notes of small dark fruits, blueberry and even blackcurrant and liquorice. Towards the finish, the rocky mineral spine is more in evidence, providing tension and direction. This is such a beautiful wine. That mineral accent lends a very individual aspect to this wine. On this showing, I now want to explore any older vintages I can find to learn more of this estate and their wines. Stunning. Drink 2027-2040+

97 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, June 2024
The 2020 Petresco is 100% Sangiovese from the estate's highest-elevation blocks facing Lamole, where soils are especially rocky and the vines are older. Wildflowers, herbs, rocks, menthol and licorice soar out of the glass. This is an especially savory, expressive Sangiovese that emphasizes mineral and floral notes more than primary fruit. Petresco spent two years in 60-70% cask and the rest in barrique, followed by a year in cement. It remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Italy. Magnificent. Drink 2026-2040.



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