Antinori - La Braccesca : Sabazio 2018

A fresh and floral great Tuscan wine

The estate

The Antinori – La Braccesca estate stretches across a total surface area of more than 500 hectares, of which 265 are dedicated to viticulture.

The vineyard

The 340 hectares of vineyards on sandy loam rich in gravel are divided into two main parts. The first, consisting of 237 hectares, is located between the towns of Montepulciano and Cortona. The second part extends over 103 hectares as far as Montepulciano and includes three of the estate’s most emblematic plots from which the Cervognano, Santa Pia and Gracciano vintages are made.

The wine

Sabazio d’Antinori – La Braccesca is a Rosso di Montepulciano wine which has been produced since 1992. Its name refers to Sabatino Lulli, or Sabazio, a medieval monk who famously began producing wines in Montepulciano.

The vintage

The year 2018 saw frequent rain and cool weather until the arrival of a hot, dry summer. The 2018 vintage will be remembered in the annals of the Montepulciano region for producing fine, elegant wines that are slightly less powerful but characterised by a beautiful balance. The Merlot was harvested as early as 19 September, while the Sangiovese was harvested in the first days of October.

Winemaking and ageing

After harvesting, the grapes were de-stemmed and gently pressed. The juice obtained was then transferred to stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature not exceeding 28°C for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation over a period of 4 months.

Blend

Merlot
Sangiovese (Prunolo gentile)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Sabazio 2018 from Antinori - La Braccesca

Tasting

Colour
Sabazio 2018 has a beautiful ruby red colour.

Nose
The nose has enticing floral scents (violet, rose), combined with cherry notes.

Palate
Fine and fresh, the palate unveils pleasant and silky tannins.