Montecucco Rosso DOC takes you to the hilly hinterland of Grosseto, in the southern part of Toscana. It is an area that lies in the shadow of its more famous neighbours, but which has a character all of its own: sun-ripened grapes, maritime influence from the coast and a landscape shaped by forest and rolling vineyards. The appellation was officially recognised as a DOC in 1998, and it brings together a style that is both recognisably Tuscan and at the same time a little more relaxed and approachable.
At the heart of every Montecucco Rosso is Sangiovese, which must make up at least 60% of the wine. The rest can consist of up to 40% other red grapes suited to Toscana, which gives the winemakers room to nuance the style. The result is typically a red wine with the classic Tuscan profile: red cherries, a hint of herbs and a fresh acidity that makes the wine a natural companion to food. The rules require a moderate yield of no more than 9 tonnes per hectare and a natural alcohol content of at least 12%, which helps ensure ripe, concentrated grapes.
Under the appellation you will find both Montecucco Rosso and the fuller-bodied Riserva, where extra time in storage gives a rounder structure and more developed notes. Both typologies speak well to you who love Sangiovese, but would like to discover something other than the familiar names further north.
If you like the profile here, it makes sense to explore the rest of our Tuscan selection. Montecucco Rosso is a fine starting point for understanding what Sangiovese can do in southern Toscana: an honest, food-friendly red wine with clear roots in its landscape. The majority of the wines here lean towards the classic style, while the Riserva offers you a taste of the appellation's more serious side.