If you’re dreaming of a Tuscan holiday and Chianti and other Sangiovese-based wines, let us introduce you to Brunello di Montalcino. It’s a small wine region centered around the town of Montalcino in the province of Siena. It’s also a wine critics love —bold, silky, and enduringly charming.
If you do head to the region — it’s a very smart idea — stop into CastelGiocondo, a Frescobaldi-owned winery set in a castle (complete with a soaring turret) in the Southwest of the DOCG.
The 2018 from CastelGiocondo is intensely red, with light, delicate notes of blackcurrant, raspberry, blushing rose and a bite of thyme. Farther on the palate is structured tannins and a subtle spice of crushed clove and black pepper, cut through with a bouncy minerality.
Serve it with flank steak, Thai larb salad, or anything with saffron. $80
Kate Dingwall is a WSET-trained sommelier and spirits writer. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Forbes.com, and Food & Wine, and she pours wine at one of Canada’s top restaurants.