Ampeleia IGT 2018 1500ml

Ampeleia is the top wine and namesake of the winery in Maremma. Cabernet Franc is the identity-giving grape variety that, according to Ampeleia, delivers unique qualities in southern Tuscany. Roccatederighi and Cabernet Franc have a rare synergy that gave birth to the winery in 2002. The cuvée of once six grape varieties is now limited to Cabernet Franc alone. The vineyards for the Ampeleia are distributed around the winery, stand on clay-limestone soils and extend over different altitudes. After manual harvesting, the grapes with a proportion of 15% whole clusters ferment spontaneously before the wines mature for another 12 months in wooden barrels.

Dark purple with black core and violet reflections.

The 2018 Ampeleia from Società Agricola Ampeleia shows a full hedonistic broadside on the nose. Mint, thyme and orange blossom water mingle in the top note and are framed by fine woody spices of cedar and sandalwood in the heart note. The fruity base notes are black cherries, cranberries and cassis, complemented by black cardamom and sloe. Despite its supposed open-heartedness, the Ampeleia demands a decanter when young.

Fleshy with a firm bite, it is extract-rich with deep, dark fruit and leafy tannin on the palate. With full fruit ahead, it mirrors the fruit of the nose and becomes spicy underpinned by peppery notes on the palate. Despite its fullness and power, it has a fine bite with an athletically trained body. The balancing act between concentration and silkiness is seemingly effortless and is fuelled by the ripe acidity and the emphatically minty cool finish.