Baron d'Ugo, IGT Toscana, 2018

More expansive red fruits and tighter tannins after the Il Campitello, Michele explained that while they love 2018 as a vintage for its raciness and perfume, hail in May meant that they had to select in the vineyard resulting in a small crop of nevertheless very good quality. More expansive red fruits on the nose, on the palate, tighter tannins and less open, more stone and earth and herb-driven this is all bound-up for the future with impressive measure and striking length. The same blend and the same vinification as Campitello (90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo and 3% Colorino) yet such a different wine. At 570 meters above sea level this southeast facing vineyard is the highest on the Monteraponi estate, indeed one of the very highest in Chianti Classico and it is now 48 years old. The soils are intensely rocky and poor - this is pure hard limestone, known locally as Albarese. Aged for 3 months in concrete and 36 months in large traditional cask.