Biondi-Santi Castello di Montepò Maceone Toscana 2019

98 Points | D
“This 100% Sangiovese from the Biondi-Santi family's Castello di Montepò estate in Tuscany's Maremma is a wine I can't stop thinking about since first tasting it in October of 2023. 'Maceone' is one of three distinct identified Crus of the 599-hectare Montepò estate. The others are Fontecanese and Poggio Ferro. I tasted all three of these forthcoming 2019 vintage releases - the first iteration of these Cru-labeled wines - which will be available in 2024. The Fontecanese (Cabernet Sauvignon-based) and Poggio Ferro (Sangiovese) are absolutely perfect, seamless wines, built for the ages, compact, and tightly knit. The Maceone is more giving and inviting today and is a viscerally thrilling red. An absolutely enticing nose that, with a bit of aeration, brings a cacophony of darkberry flavours to the surface, along with red currants, cigar box, tea leaves, black liquorice, and expressive garrigue notes. A splendid medium- to full-bodied core of crushed stone minerals supports pure blackberry and black cherry fruits, spiced plums, sandalwood, and unsmoked tobacco, all caressed by polished, satiny tannins and framed by a firm spine of juicy acidity. Seek these out. Number one of my top 10 wines of 2023.” - Decanter