2020 Guardiavigna

The Val d’Orcia is an extremely large and diverse area that covers multiple terroirs, many of which are unsuitable for the production of fine wine. With that said, a small number of great estates have found a perfect slice of terroir, and one that stands out vintage after vintage is Podere Forte. The Podere Forte estate, situated between Montalcino and Montepulciano, is focused almost entirely on the production of single-vineyard, varietal Sangiovese (although they also produce a truly compelling Cabernet Franc) Podere Forte oversee 500 hectares, practicing biodynamic and organic principles and embracing biodiversity, as they also grow olives, grains, and tend livestock across the property. The estate is surrounded by thick, lush forests, with a mix of diverse soils. The vineyards are situated at elevations over 500 meters, which imparts unique characteristics to each of the single-vineyard wines. Last year’s tasting focused mostly on the 2018s, which was a difficult vintage in this part of Tuscany, but with this year's tasting covering 2019 through 2022, it’s clear that Podere Forte is back to form. Both the Sangiovese Melo and Anfiteatro can go toe to toe with top-tier Brunello di Montalcino. These are wines that should be in any collection of top-shelf Tuscan reds.