Description
San Giusto A Rentennano are up there with Italy’s top growers – they are all about purity of sangiovese fruit, elegance, almost feminine for super Tuscan), beautiful aromatics, and superb vibrancy and freshness …Flavour spectrum more red fruits rather than brooding black fruits.
Percalo a selection of Sangiovese from six cru vineyards that form the best expression of the terroir of San Giusto multilayered, firm tannins and beautifully integrated French oak but they do not over do the oak. Powerful wine – cellars well up to 20 years They became certified organic in 2008 vintage.
Set in the far south of the Chianti Classico zone, San Giusto a Rentennano started out as a medieval Cistercian monastery and currently owns about 40 hectares of vineyards – a small landholding compared to some of big Tuscan names and a feature that means they produce small quantities of wine.
Their Percarlo is made from 100% estate Sangiovese, organically grown from the finest vineyards. Yields are exceptionally low – around 1kg of grapes per vine – and the vines sit on a complex combination of mineral rich soils, imbuing the grapes with exceptional acidity and fruit purity. A near perfect microclimate offers cool nights which slows the ripening process and increases complexity, and long warm days which allows the Sangiovese to reach complete ripeness. They are then hand picked and rigorously sorted (up to 50% of grapes can be discarded if they don’t reach stringent quality standards) as late as possible. Combined with a use of natural yeasts and unfiltered bottling, this is a truly unique and memorable expression of Sangiovese. 2016 Percarlo is an exquisite wine
99 points Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media Aug 2019
” The 2016 Percarlo captures all of the beauty it has always shown in the cellar. Pliant, silky and exceptionally polished, the 2016 simply has it all. Freshly cut flowers, rose petal, mint, spice and blood orange add striking aromatic nuance to a core of brilliant Sangiovese fruit. Powerful and ample, with superb aromatic lift, the 2016 Percarlo is exceptionally beautiful and moving from the very first taste. A whole range of floral and mineral notes extend the finish effortless. The tannins need time to soften, so readers should plan on at least a few years of cellaring. In a word: compelling.”
98+ points Monica Larner, Wine Advocate Aug 2020
” The iconic San Giusto a Rentennano 2016 Percarlo is a gorgeous expression, opening slowly to reveal black fruit, blue flowers, lilac, honey, potting soil and a touch of fragrant porcino mushroom. These are stunning results, with a soft and contoured mouthfeel followed by elegant tannins, balanced acidity and a long finish that wraps over the palate with silky intensity. Keep the wine in your cellar for a few more years, allowing it to take on extra complexity and volume. In a sense, Percarlo transcends Sangiovese. Not only does it deliver the classic characteristics of the variety, it does so with a touch of magic, transforming the grape into an ethereal and soulful expression of Tuscany. ”
