2020 La Spinetta Il Nero Di Casanova Sangiovese Terre di Pisa, Tuscany

A dusty nose with subtle notes of cherries, wild berries, dried orange peel, spices and some earthy nuances. Medium-bodied, polished and linear, with fine tannins. Shows focus and balance with its vivid acidity and savory, lingering aftertaste. Drink now or hold.

92 points jamessuckling.com

La Spinetta Il Nero di Casanova Sangiovese Terre di Pisa is a vibrant and characterful expression of Sangiovese from one of Tuscany’s most historic yet newly recognised regions. The vineyards sit in the rolling hills around Pisa, an area with a long winegrowing past that has only recently been given its own DOC. Clay, sand and limestone soils combine with warm days and cooling coastal breezes to give wines both ripeness and freshness, a beautiful balance for Sangiovese.

La Spinetta, run by the Rivetti family, is famous for their work in Piedmont, but their move into Tuscany brought the same obsession with vineyard detail and expressive winemaking. Il Casanova estate near Pisa is their Tuscan home, and Il Nero di Casanova is their pure, site driven take on Sangiovese, designed to show both energy and depth rather than heaviness.

In the glass, the wine bursts with sour cherry, red plum and wild berries, lifted by notes of violets, dried herbs and a touch of spice. The palate is bright and finely structured, with lively acidity and firm but polished tannins giving real drive and food friendly grip. It is fresh, savoury and unmistakably Tuscan in character.

This is a superb wine for the table. Roast chicken, pork, tomato based pasta, pizza, grilled vegetables or aged pecorino all pair beautifully with its acidity and red fruit brightness.

La Spinetta Il Nero di Casanova Sangiovese drinks beautifully in its youth but will also reward a few years in the cellar, gaining more savoury and earthy complexity over five to eight years. It is a confident, modern expression of Sangiovese that honours both Tuscany’s traditions and La Spinetta’s flair.