Author: Dirk Chan
Our online feature this week is the Fattoria Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano (Maremma, Italy) – $23.99, regularly $28.99.
Fattoria Le Pupille was a farm belonging to the Gentili family of Pisa. Initially, it was an estate full of cattle, large wheat fields and a small oil production. In the 60s, it was decided to plant a couple of hectares of vineyards to drink wine with the family and give it to the closest friends. At that time the dignity of the Maremma as a territory with great winemaking potential was not recognized and Morellino di Scansano was a simple and pleasant local wine, intended for daily consumption, but certainly not aspiring to deal with the big Italian appellations.
In 1985, a 20-year-old Elisabetta Geppetti didn’t just inherit a Tuscan estate – she turned it into a leading Tuscan estate, and a global ambassador for Morellino di Scansano while crafting a Super Tuscan legend known as Saffredi. Nestled in Maremma, between rolling hills and the shimmer of the Tyrrhenian Sea, this estate boasts 85 organically farmed hectares that dance between altitude and sea breeze. Her mentor was the late great Giacomo Tachis, the father of Supertuscans Sassicaia, Solaia and Tignanello. Elisabetta’s daughter Clara now brings a new-gen edge to the family affair, while son Ettore crafts the wines with both intuition and technical precision.
Our special this week is their standard bearer Morellino di Scansano. Morellino di Scansano DOCG is an Italian red wine made in the hilly environs of the village of Scansano in the Maremma region of coastal Tuscany. Morellino is the local name for the Sangiovese grape. The wine, which was granted DOC status in 1978, then upgraded to DOCG status beginning with the 2007 vintage, is made from at least 85% Sangiovese, which is also the basis of the Tuscan wines Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
This is just a great quality everyday red. It offers succulent, bright, creamy red fruits, a silky core of dark red purple berry fruits, lavender, rose petal spice and a touch of menthol. Balanced yet doesn’t scream for attention – enjoy with tomato-based pasta dishes.
Fattoria Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano (Maremma, Italy) – $23.99, regularly $28.99.