Wine Advisor
Fattoria Le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano Riserva 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2018 Poggio Valente is a very pretty, open-knit wine. The aromatics are especially inviting. Sweet pipe tobacco, dried cherry, mint, anise, cinnamon and dried flowers lend notable presence to this decidedly mid-weight Poggio Valente. All the elements are so well balanced.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The Fattoria le Pupille 2018 Morellino di Scansano Riserva is Sangiovese with an addition of 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (drawn from various vineyard sites, including the historic plot that makes Saffredi, the estate's top wine). Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, just like with all the other estate reds, and this Riserva goes into oak casks for 15 months. The 2018 and 2019 vintages share similar characteristics in that they are both cooler, certainly compared to 2020. This is a solid, mid-weight red that boasts a very pretty and vibrant bouquet. There are floral notes and wild cherry capped by graphite or pencil shavings. The wine reveals a lovely, dark garnet color in the glass, and some of that oak spice comes out as well.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The 2018 Morellino di Scansano shows nice freshness and very decisive primary fruit. It is a sharp and zippy Morellino, carrying some tones of bitter almond and candied orange peel at the back of forest berry and wild cherry. The blend is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Alicante and 5% Ciliegiolo. This is an easy-drinking red that would feel right at home next to a cheesy baked eggplant dish.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A beautiful Morellino with sweet berry and cherry character and hints of chocolate and walnuts. It’s medium-to full-bodied with juicy tannins and a delicious, round finish. Drink or hold.
About the Producer
Fattoria Le Pupille is a leading wine estate in the Maremma region of coastal Tuscany. It is best known for Saffredi, a Toscana IGT blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot that has been described as the Lafite of Tuscany. Owner Elisabetta Geppetti is known as the Lady of Morellino and the Ambassador of Maremma. In 1992 she became head of the Consorzio for Morellino di Scansano - the region's association of grape growers and wine producers. She was the first woman to gain that position in any Italian wine region. The estate has 75 hectares (185 acres) of vineyards in total, the core of which are located around the village of Peretta. These vineyard holdings include the 25ha (62 acres) of the original Pupille vineyard and the 5-ha (12-acre) plot responsible for Saffredi. There is also a 20-ha (50-acre) plot near Magliano, and the winery itself is located near Grosseto. This is a modern facility located within the traditionally-styled building that features on the label. As well as Saffredi, Le Pupille makes three Sangiovese-based Morellino di Scansano cuvées. These are a "normale", a Riserva, and the Poggio Valente Riserva, which is aged for 15 months in a mix of small and large barrels. There is also a IGT Maremma Toscana Rosso, named Pelofino, which is a blend of Sangiovese and Syrah with a small amount of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. 2015 saw the first release of Le Pupille, a 100 percent Syrah aged for 12 months in 300-liter French oak barrels. This is priced above the flagship Saffredi. The estate also makes a Rosamatti rosato and a Poggio Argentato white based on Sauvignon Blanc with Petit Manseng, Traminer and Semillon. Piemme is a recently introduced single variety deluxe white wine from Petit Manseng . The lineup is completed by SolAlto, a botrytized white wine made from Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. In total around 500,000 bottles are produced each year.
