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.