Country: Italy Region: Tuscany Varietal: Sangiovese 90% Merlot/ Syrah 10% Vintage: 2018 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Riecine Founded by Englishman John Dunkley, and today run by the Frank family, the estate is committed to a natural approach. Certified organic and following biodynamic processes, the land is gently nurtured with plants, flowers and grasses encouraged to flourish. This is all to promote vineyard diversity and the health of the land. Closely monitored pickers select only the best, ripest and cleanest bunches from the vines; everything else remains in the fields to return to the earth. With low sulphur additions, natural yeasts and long fermentation, the wines are gently coaxed into the world. Adhering strictly to the belief in Sangiovese as the only variety that should be used, these incredible wines are honest examples of that over used phrase 'a true sense of place'. Riecine is a rare example of what can be achieved through handcrafted, artisan individual care and attention. The grapes are destalked into shallow bins and then all softly crushed before being dropped into either cement, stainless steel, oak or open topped bins. The fermentation is carefully controlled to ensure proper temperature and perfect extraction of soft tannins, colour and flavour. Once in the tanks they run off a “salasso” of about 10-20% of the juice. This process increases the ratio of skins to juice in the remaining must to ensure a more concentrated finished wine. All the wines are fermented with their own natural yeasts and therefore start off very slowly. This adds character but also has the bonus of causing a cold maceration that lasts normally 3 to 4 days. Vineyards 100% certified organic. Organically produced wines (Not certified),with some biodynamic practice. Grass in rows to minimise erosion. Food Matches: Pasta / Game / Risottos / Venison