Torre Zambra Villamagna DOC 2021

100% Montepulciano.  Fermented wild in stainless steel, aged six months in concrete tanks, then 10 months in French and Slavonian oak tonneau, 50% new, with a further six months in bottle before release.  Villamagna DOC (pronounced Villa-manya) is one of Italy’s smallest appellations at 85 hectares, hosting some five producers and two co-ops.  Granted in 2011, it’s characterised by limestone and clacaire soils and sits at 120 – 250 metres elevation.

Despite weighing in at 15% alcohol against the Riserva’s 14%, it presents as a finer iteration.  Varietal flavours of tobacco, cocoa and coffee are present, but fruit notes of black cherry and raspberry are more present here, with it holding a tighter line in the mouth, the oak providing a lower impression, and finishing with awesome length and definingly, focus.

“This a thick, intense and very black wine. There’s dark cherry, dark chocolate and coffee bean, dried herbs, new leather and spice. Very dense in tannin, all the crushed rocks, bitter dark chocolate, almond, firm acidity to balance, with a mudslide of tannin on a finish of excellent length. It’s quite an experience. Needs some robust food to go with it, but very good.” 94 points, Gary Walsh, Winefront