Region: Toscana/Tuscany
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Morellino di Scansano DOCG
Established: Established in 1978 and elevated to DOCG status in 2006
Primary Grape Varieties: Sangiovese of varietal percentages (>85%) blended with other approved local red varieties.
Pairs with: Soups and minestrone, grilled meats, roasted meats and wild game
Characteristics: Red and Reserve wines with varying aging requirements of 4-5 months and 2 years for Reserve with at least one year on wood.
Aromas and flavors of Blackberry, violet, red cherry, cocoa, tobacco and vanilla.
The typical wine is softer and more fruit forward that a typical Sangiovese as the climate enables higher ripeness. The reserve wines can be very full-bodied, complex and structured.
Serve: Room Temperature
Morellino di Scansano is a well known wine and region in the southern end of Tuscany and is located within the Maremma zone. The town is a small village with a long history dating back to medieval times. With the growing popularity of these wines, the area is seeing a relatively rapid growth in land under vine, especially on the hillsides of this warm and mediterranean area. The primary blending partner of Morellino is Cannonau, known here as Alicante. Other blending partners include Ciliegiolo and Merlot but many producers are trending to higher percentages or Sangiovese up to 100%.
The Maremma Toscana DOC was an IGT until being elevated in 2011 and it is a large and diverse production zone with a wide range of varieties planted and wines styles produced. Thus, key wines have been designated their own sub zone DOC or DOCG as was done for Morellino di Scansano, the best known wine of the region,
the town of Scansano is a small, medieval town that is found in the center of the DOCG zone and is surrounded by gentle hills in a warm mediterranean climate. Beginning in the 1990s and continuing into the current century, there have been significant efforts to expand plantings and increase wine quality. The Sangiovese clone is known as Morellino and in a similar fashion to Montepulciano and Montalcino, the wines take the name of the grape's local name. Morellino is Sangiovese and the wines are made in a varietal form with at least 85% of the blend based on the Morellino clone. Many producers are working toward 100% versions and a push to maintain the soft, fruit forward wine.
With two years of age, the Riserva wines are more complex and have fuller body and greater structural character.
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Morellino di Scansano DOCG
Established: Established in 1978 and elevated to DOCG status in 2006
Primary Grape Varieties: Sangiovese of varietal percentages (>85%) blended with other approved local red varieties.
Pairs with: Soups and minestrone, grilled meats, roasted meats and wild game
Characteristics: Red and Reserve wines with varying aging requirements of 4-5 months and 2 years for Reserve with at least one year on wood.
Aromas and flavors of Blackberry, violet, red cherry, cocoa, tobacco and vanilla.
The typical wine is softer and more fruit forward that a typical Sangiovese as the climate enables higher ripeness. The reserve wines can be very full-bodied, complex and structured.
Serve: Room Temperature
Morellino di Scansano is a well known wine and region in the southern end of Tuscany and is located within the Maremma zone. The town is a small village with a long history dating back to medieval times. With the growing popularity of these wines, the area is seeing a relatively rapid growth in land under vine, especially on the hillsides of this warm and mediterranean area. The primary blending partner of Morellino is Cannonau, known here as Alicante. Other blending partners include Ciliegiolo and Merlot but many producers are trending to higher percentages or Sangiovese up to 100%.
The Maremma Toscana DOC was an IGT until being elevated in 2011 and it is a large and diverse production zone with a wide range of varieties planted and wines styles produced. Thus, key wines have been designated their own sub zone DOC or DOCG as was done for Morellino di Scansano, the best known wine of the region,
the town of Scansano is a small, medieval town that is found in the center of the DOCG zone and is surrounded by gentle hills in a warm mediterranean climate. Beginning in the 1990s and continuing into the current century, there have been significant efforts to expand plantings and increase wine quality. The Sangiovese clone is known as Morellino and in a similar fashion to Montepulciano and Montalcino, the wines take the name of the grape's local name. Morellino is Sangiovese and the wines are made in a varietal form with at least 85% of the blend based on the Morellino clone. Many producers are working toward 100% versions and a push to maintain the soft, fruit forward wine.
With two years of age, the Riserva wines are more complex and have fuller body and greater structural character.
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