A pure, perfectly balanced expression of one of Italy’s most important grapes from an overlooked region.
Producer: Noelia Ricci
Region: Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Grapes: 100% Sangiovese
Price: $20
In Brief
Body: Medium Body
Characters: Elegant
Flavors: Ripe Red Cherry, Warm Spice, Tabacco
Pairings: Pork Bolognese, Vegetable Ratatouille
The Wine
Ruby-hued in the glass, this wine has a nose chock-full of bright red cherry fruit and a slightly roasted edge. The palate opens to notes of warm spices like cinnamon and clove, finishing with an earthy note of tobacco or dried leaves. The acidity is juicy and fresh, the tannins are fine, and the integration is on-point. Battles said this bottle is a great match with pork ragout, but its versatility means it would shine alongside everything from grilled meat to summer vegetable ratatouille.
The Story
Sangiovese is one of Italy’s most important grapes. The red variety is the most famous coming from Tuscany and is responsible for some of the world’s penultimate classics, like Chianti, Montepulciano, and Brunello di Montalcino. But Sangiovese isn’t specific to the Tuscan sun; in fact, the aromatic grape grows all over the country, from the hills of the Umbrian Apennines into the far-flung wilds of Emilia-Romagna, near Bologna, where the Noelia Ricci estate is located.
“This is just such a pure, fresh example of the variety,” Battles said. “You see so much Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna, but Sangiovese isn’t necessarily something that’s readily available.”
In Tuscany, Sangiovese tends to be elegant, perfumed, and sultry. When found in the sandy terroir of Emilia-Romagna, however, its expression shifts slightly, maintaining its elegance but showing a rustic, spicy edge with just a bit more oomph.
