Castello di Querceto Gran Selezione Il Picchio 2018

Dark chocolate with dark berries and plums on the nose. Medium-bodied with round, creamy tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. Very fine tannins here. Shows finesse and polish. Already delicious, but better in a year or two. Try in 2023.

The Picchio vineyard is encircled by forest which protects it from cold northern winds. Planted on poor schistose soil, the vines are now 30-plus years old. Exuberantly youthful, aromas of blackberry, smoke, wild herbs and flinty stone are immediately captivating. It's full and quite fruity in expression, especially for a Gran Selezione. Crunchy red plum and black cherry are backed by fresh grape tannins. It becomes quite dense on the backend without sacrificing delightful freshness. This sees just eight months in barriques, of which 10% are new.