'Papaleto' Piccini 2020

The 'Papaleto' produced by the family-run Piccini is a Tuscan Bordeaux blend characterised by fine aromas of fruit and spices. This bottle falls into the category of the so-called 'Supertuscans', created in the 1970s and 1980s to group together and valorise those great Tuscan wines produced outside the historic appellations, often using precisely such Bordeaux varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Piccini 'Papaleto' consists of a blend of Merlot (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) grapes. Once harvested, the grapes are mellowed in stainless steel tanks for alcoholic fermentation in contact with the skins, aimed at extracting the noble compounds contained in the grapes. Instead, oak barrels are used for the subsequent ageing phase, containers in which the wine stays for 12 months before a further 6 months in the bottle. Once the maturation period is over, the mass is finally bottled and left to rest for a few more months until its definitive release.

In the glass, the Piccini 1882 'Papaleto' Bordeaux blend displays an intense ruby red mantle. On the nose, fine fruity sensations of strawberry, cherry and blueberry are accompanied by floral hints of hibiscus and violet, all combined with nuances of liquorice, cocoa, vanilla and tobacco. The taste, initially warm and structured, turns out to be surprisingly fine and drinkable, with intense but integrated tannins accompanying the pleasant fruity and spicy finish. To enhance the characteristics of this red wine, the producer himself suggests pairing it with truffle risotto, mature sheep's milk cheese or various meat dishes such as game and lamb.