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Friday, May 14, 2021

The Wild and Untamed Sangiovese of Tenuta Sassoregale

A month late to the game, but Vino Travels celebrates it’s 8th year blogging mostly about Italian wine.  It’s been quite the journey and I’ve learned so much with still so much more to explore.  Life has been quite the challenge for most over this past year, but if there is anything that is going to help pull us through this crazy world we live in it’s wine!   

I wanted to celebrate by opening one of my nicer bottles, but life has been quite hectic lately so I’m celebrating my blogiversary with my favorite grape, Sangiovese.  This one today hails from Tenuta Sassoregale in the southern part of Tuscany known as the Maremma.  This part of the Tuscan region is one that I really want to dig my teeth into more as I’ve always enjoyed many of the wines I’ve tried from there. 

The winery ~ Tenuta Sassoregale 

Tenuta Sassoregale, founded in 2002, is located in Civitella Paganico of the Grosseto province in the northern part of the Maremma known as the Alta Maremma.  There are 2 other parts including the southern Maremma, known as Maremma Grossetana, and the Maremma Laziale.  It’s located on the southwestern part of Tuscany close to the Tyrrhenian Sea.  The winery looks over the plains that are crossed by the Ombrone river.   

The Maremma is a rugged landscape covered in forests and rolling hills that was once a marshland that got drained in the beginning of the 20th century.  It’s split between the Tuscany region and Lazio in central Italy.  It’s a land full of sunshine, but with it’s proximity to the sea the vineyards receive cooling breezes to tame the summer heat creating a Mediterranean climate.   

Tenuta Sassoregale produces primarily Sangiovese, but also has plots of Merlot, Syrah and Vermentino.  Back in 2019 they became certified organic by Accredia starting with their 2017 vintage.   

The wine 

I purchased the 2018 Tenuta Sassoregale Sangiovese Maremma Toscana DOC.  the Maremma Toscana was originally an IGT that got promoted up to DOC in 2011.  It does cover a large, diverse territory in the Maremma so you will see a range of styles produced under this DOC. 

The Sangiovese grapes are grown in soil that are primarily made of clay.  This wine is aged in small oak for a short time, although I couldn’t locate the length of time.  Showing a bright, transparent ruby color in the glass.  Fresh acidity with cherry flavors, more on the rustic side, with firm tannins. At $15 a bottle it’s a well valued sangiovese that’s approachable while full of flavor. SRP 13.5% 

2018 Tenuta Sassoregale Maremma Sangiovese

I love the label on this wine that features the wild boar, one of my favorite dishes when I visit Italy.  In my research I discovered there are over 150,000 wild boar that roam the region.  The winery chose to use this labeling to represent their wines as they feel the wines they are produced with a “wild and untamed soul” similar to the wild boar.  I remember when I got married back in Tuscany at night I would hear in the vineyards the wild boar roaming about.  Little did they know they were going to be on my plate the next night. 

As always I love to hear from my readers and especially during these times when I struggle to find the time to discover new wines while also pushing myself to learn, I love to hear there are folks actually out there following me along on my journey.  What do you like, dislike and and what do you want to read more about?  Please reach out!  Shoot me an email at vinotravels at hotmail dot com.  Grazie and salute to the weekend!

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