Santa Pia Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva

From the Santa Pia vineyard, a single site in the heart of Montepulciano, comes this Riserva with the weight and calm that Sangiovese Grosso – called Prugnolo Gentile here – develops in good years.

La Braccesca is one of the best-known wineries in Tuscany and has been managed by Antinori since the 1990s. The sites around Montepulciano and Cortona lie on gently rolling soils with a high clay content, which gives the wine structure and aging potential. The Riserva classification requires a longer maturation period – for the Santa Pia, 12 months in tonneaux are added, which give the Sangiovese depth without over-shaping it.

In the glass, a deep dark red appears. On the nose, ripe sour cherry, dried plum, and a hint of tobacco, plus subtle vanilla and an undertone of leather. On the palate, medium to full body, the tannins are integrated and silky – typical for aged Riservas from this appellation. The finish is long, with an invigorating acidity that keeps the wine lively at the table.

Accessible now. Temperature: 16–18 °C. Goes well with Bistecca alla Fiorentina, braised wild boar, or ripe Pecorino di Pienza.