Pierazzuoli Gioveto Toscana Rosso 2018

Tenuta Cantagallo (known stateside by the family name, Pierazzuoli, because Gallo has more lawyers than estate vineyards), is a long-time favorite producer of ours. A true family business with two absolutely stunning estates in Chianti. Their “Gioveto” bottling is a best-barrel blend of their prized sangiovese, with chunks of merlot and syrah. This is the best price anywhere for this wine and easily surpasses similar wines at three times the price!

We know you’re probably a bit worn out hearing us continuing to crow about the 2018 vintage, but...it really does live up to the hype! Pierazzuoli’s ‘18 Gioveto Toscana, with 60% sangiovese, 20% merlot, and 20% syrah is a prime example of the power and grace of the 2018 growing season, harmoniously confined to a wine that will completely exceed your expectations. Dried and super-fresh, bursting with brandied cherry, smoky espresso, blackberry extract, sweet herbs, citrus peel, iron ore – all wrapped up in fine, structured tannins, fresh and tingly acidity and an earthy, mineral-driven finish…just truly astonishing complexity at this price.

The Pierazzuoli family is a legit old-school producer, making organic wines, raising a few goats and chickens, making some killer organic olive oil, offering a few rooms to stay in, and a little Osteria to eat heartily at. The grapes are grown on rocky, marl soils at elevations from 250-400 meters, with the entirety of the estate being farmed organically. The two brothers, Enrico and Dario, focus on the winemaking and agriculture, while their sisters, Serena and Enrica, run the Osteria and their agro-tourism business – making this one of the most idyllic, self-contained estates you can imagine. We met the family back in 2012 and have kept in touch ever since! You’ll wish you bought more of this as soon as you taste it - this is an incredible value and one of the finest Super Tuscans on this planet, in our opinion.

Eric Guido, of Vinous, gave the wine a solid 91-point score. While we think that is way lower than the wine deserves, we completely agree with his tasting notes. Read it for yourself and we’re pretty sure that you’ll agree…this sounds like an amazing wine. Trust us…it really is. And only $24.95?!?!

PAIRING IDEAS: Don’t overthink this… this wine goes with SO MANY dishes! My choice, this Campanelle Pasta with Sausage and Brocolli Rabe … Mangia!

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: Does anyone between the ages of 25 and 55 not immediately think of "Almost Famous" when you hear Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”??? Anywho, killer movie, fantastic song, and the perfect golden god to pair with this wine.