May's Wine of the Month - Belpoggio 2021 Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany

Rosso di Montalcino is one of those great “best kept secret” wines especially for lovers of Italian Sangiovese.  Rosso di Montalcino is the younger, more approachable sibling of one of Italy’s most revered and ageworthy wines called Brunello di Montalcino.  Both are made in the southern Tuscan village of Montalcino and both wines are required to be 100% Sangiovese.  The significant difference between the two wines is that Brunello is vinified in a way to produce a more powerful, extracted wine built for aging, while Rosso di Montalcino is a lighter, fresher, more fruit forward wine, ready for consumption when released.   In fact, Brunello is required to be aged five years before release while Rosso is only required to be aged for one year.

The “best kept secret” part about Rosso di Montalcino, and another main difference from Brunello, is that Rosso’s can still be found on a retail shelf ranging from $20 to $40 while Brunello’s now range from $60 to upward of $100.  On rare occasions, as with this gem from Belpoggio, you can find an exceptional Rosso under $20.

Belpoggio’s Rosso di Montalcino is a classic example of this wine and a great introduction to Tuscan Sangiovese.  It’s a fresh, medium-bodied, elegant red wine with the gorgeous Sangiovese fruit taking center stage.  Enticing aromas of red berry fruits, violets and Tuscan herbs are followed on the palate with lively red and dark red fruits, savory herbs and Tuscan earth.    Rosso di Montalcino is a great wine for lighter pasta dishes, classic pizzas, and braised, roasted or grilled meats.

Belpoggio is located southeast of Montalcino, in the small hamlet of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, which is considered one of the best areas for the cultivation of Sangiovese.  The vineyards are positioned on steep rocky slopes rich in mineral soils adding complexity to the wines.