Tuscany is the heart and soul of Sangiovese. This spicy, ruddy grape comes with many aliases, and, depending on its terroir, different personalities. In Montelpulciano, their Sangiovese variety is known as Prugnolo Gentile that is hand selected bunch by bunch then aged in large traditional wild chestnut oak casks called Botti. Centuries ago, it was declared by the poet Francesco Redi as the "king of all wines" meant only for royalty to drink. This was the first Italian wine to obtain the official D.O.C.G.

Although 2004 was a very hot year, the high Fanetti vineyards were a perfect location to capture the direct rays of the Tuscan sun, while the cooling evening winds on the hill top insured perfect ripening. This Vino Nobile di Montepulciano starts off a beautiful ruby color that will become increasingly more brickish in color with extended aging. The wines are aged in the Botti (large oak barrels) according to traditional custom for a minimum of two years, or three for the riserva. Fanetti chooses to age their Vino Nobile for a minimum of 5 years in Botti before bottling.

Notes of tobacco, licorice, cedar and red fruit on a medium bodied frame with notable detail and nuance in expression makes this a wonderfully superb wine. Laced with the hints of violets, plums and cherries this wine is extraordinarily rich, soft and well balanced. It is both lively and rich, with a peppery, spicy energy on the finish. Voluptuous, bold and robust. This wine walks a fine line between balanced elegance and super ripeness, and we see it aging effortlessly through 2015 and beyond. A must with roasted wild game and meats; it is the perfect wine for rich cheeses and foods.