Black and nearly impenetrable with blue-purple edges, this is a ridiculously ripe sangio in the nose with layers and layers of deep, concentrated berry highlighted with a mineral-vegetal rim. Plentiful air is key here, as it is rather closed-in on pop-n-pour but blossoms nicely into splendor I did not originally predict.

Really tight on the palate, the thin, acidic churn of something designed for the cellar reminds of the variety’s fortitude despite early austerity and shocking acid. It’s bitter and bold, the fruit pithy and wrapped tightly in a shell of structure. Firm pomegranate crunchiness barely allows beauty to shine through on first-glance, but it is there, gradually exploding into a harshly-balanced drop you just CAN’T get enough of. Sharp and stupidly bright, tannin coming in early in an attempt to obscure the fruit, the ripeness finally winning. Holy wow what a wine!

2021 IL CONTE VILLA PRANDONE ‘Donello’ Sangiovese Marche IGP Italy 13.5

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