2019 Tenute Piccini Sasso Al Poggio Toscana 750 ml

After over 140 years, it would be easy for a winery as successful as Tenute Piccini to rest on their laurels.

But the commitment to quality that allowed them to rise to prominence in Tuscany’s competitive winescape guides them as much as ever, which is why Wine Enthusiast declared them “one of the most dynamic and innovative wineries in Italy” only a few years ago.

That commitment shows in every sip of their Sasso Al Poggio Toscana. It’s a classically built Super Tuscan based on Sangiovese, but bolstered with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for a beautiful modern focus and polish. 

Piccini farms all of their vineyards organically, avoiding chemical intervention and building vine health with a variety of techniques that are so old they qualify as cutting-edge. It starts with a robust cover-crop program. They also use beneficial insects to combat pests, rather than artificial solutions. It’s a more labor-intensive way to farm that pays off in spades in the wine.

In the winery, the team uses long macerations to develop Sangiovese’s classic flavors of dark cherries, dried cranberries, and hints of flowers, licorice, and black tea. Cabernet Sauvignon adds stout structure and Merlot brings a velvety mouthfeel. 

The 2019 vintage provided nice raw materials. The year kicked off with a mild winter and a vigorous early spring. An uneventful summer had the smaller-than-normal crop popping into action, developing small, concentrated berries that managed to keep vibrant acidity to balance their rich flavors and velvety tannins. The result is a stellar Super Tuscan that does the category proud.