Wine Advisor
San Giusto a Rentennano, Percarlo Sangiovese Toscana 1997
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The dense ruby/purple-colored 1997 Percarlo is compelling. Enormous in aromas, flavors, and persistence on the palate, it exhibits profound levels of concentration as well as unbelievably dense, black currant, blackberry liqueur notes infused with new saddle leather, licorice, truffles, and toasty oak. Enormously thick and viscous, with low acidity, and mouthcoating levels of extract, this wine's tannin level is high, but largely obscured by the wealth of fruit, glycerin, and extract. It is an amazing accomplishment! Anticipated maturity: now-2020. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 1997 Percarlo impresses for its pure seduction. It is also impossibly young. Dark red cherries, flowers and mint wrap around the palate in this sensual, inviting wine. In keeping with the qualities of the warm year, the 1997 emphasizes textural depth and richness rather then the more aromatic, firm style that defines cooler years such as 1996. The 1997 is drop dead gorgeous today. I imagine the 1997 will age faster than the 1996, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem given the wine’s exceptional balance. Layers of fruit built to the huge, textured finish. This is a decidedly flashy wine. I have always had a soft spot for the 1997. This bottle more than exceeded my expectations. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. This complete vertical of Percarlo left me speechless. Brothers Luca and Francesco Martini di Cigala showed me every vintage of Percarlo, back to the inaugural 1983, a wine that has now run its full course. I was deeply struck by the consistency of the wines from year to year, and even more importantly, by the great showing of a number of wines from long forgotten vintages, proving yet again the importance of choosing producer over vintage. Percarlo started off as a selection of the estate’s best vineyards. In 2001 the Cigalas sharpened their approach by focusing on what is now literally a bunch by bunch selection across all of the fruit that comes into the winery, an approach they favor because of the huge inconsistency Sangiovese can often show from vine to vine, and even within the same cluster. I also tasted a few vintages of the Chianti Classico Le Baroncole, the top Sangiovese bottling made in vintages not deemed suitable for Percarlo. Readers who want to learn more about San Giusto and Percarlo may want to take a look at my recent video interview with proprietor Luca Martini di Cigala. San Giusto a Rentennano Percarlo Key Points: 1. 100% Sangiovese from the estate’s best vineyards in Gaiole 2. A powerful, intense expression of Sangiovese 3. Remarkably consistent, even in lesser years 4. Aging potential: 20+ years
About the Producer
San Giusto a Rentennano is a family-run winery located in the Tuscany wine region of Italy, now owned by the Martini di Cigala family. Family) is responsible for management. The name "San Giusto" comes from the Etruscan people in Italy. During the Middle Ages, Chateau San Giusto was a convent where nuns lived, so it was called "San Giusto alle Monache". In 1204, the Florentines fortified the winery, making it the border between Florence and Siena. Today, the grounds of the winery still stand part of the remaining city walls, while the other part has sunk to become a wine cellar for aging. In 1914, the Martini de Chigala family became the current owners of the winery through a marriage to the previous owner. Descendants of the family still manage San Giusto Winery today. In 1999, the winery hired Attilio Pagli as winemaking consultant. The San Giusto winery covers an area of 160 hectares and is 270 meters above sea level. From the winery, you can see the Arbia river extending to the farthest southern tip of the Chianti Classico region. Among them, the vineyard area is 31 hectares. In addition, the estate of the winery is also planted with olive trees, woods and pastures. The soil of the vineyard is varied, the main components are sand, clay, limestone, volcanic ash and terracotta, the soil is alkaline and rich in calcium ions. At the same time, the temperature difference between day and night in the vineyard is significant, and the temperature is higher during the grape harvesting season. These conditions are conducive to the production of ripe, high-quality grapes with intense flavours. The winery adopts an organic planting model to strictly manage the vineyard, and most of the vineyard work is manually operated. After the grapes are ripe, the winery conducts green hand harvesting of the grapes. Since its establishment, San Giusto Winery has been committed to producing high-quality wines with Tuscan terroir characteristics. The wines that have been officially released include Percarlo Sangiovese, La Ricolma Merlot and Le Baroncole, etc., which are well received by consumers. favorite.
