2020 Fattoria le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Riserva, Tuscany

Plenty of sweet berries and cherries with hints of burnt orange. It’s medium-bodied with a caressing, creamy structure. Pretty fruit at the end. Balanced and beautiful. Always satisfies. Drink now.

92 points jamessuckling.com

Fattoria Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Riserva is a deeper, more structured expression of the Maremma’s signature red, made from a selection of the estate’s best Sangiovese fruit. While the regular Morellino delivers immediate charm and drinkability, the Riserva brings complexity, savoury depth and ageing potential to the table. It reflects Elisabetta Geppetti’s continued commitment to raising the profile of Morellino, offering a wine that captures both the sun-soaked generosity of southern Tuscany and the elegance of refined Sangiovese.

The blend is primarily Sangiovese with a small portion of Alicante and other local varieties, fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 12 months in a mix of large Slavonian oak casks and French tonneaux. The wine is then rested in bottle before release, allowing tannins to soften and flavours to integrate.

In the glass, it opens with aromas of red cherry, wild strawberry, dried herbs, forest floor and a gentle kiss of spice and cedar. The palate is medium to full bodied with fine, dusty tannins and flavours of sour cherry, plum, balsamic and earthy spice. There’s a freshness that keeps the wine lifted, and a savoury thread that gives it serious food versatility.

Food pairing: excellent with grilled lamb, wild boar ragù, rosemary roast chicken, or eggplant parmigiana. Also ideal with aged pecorino or hard Tuscan cheeses.

Cellar potential: drinking well now but will evolve beautifully over 6 to 10 years, gaining leathery, truffle-like complexity and mellowed tannins.