Compare at $35/bottle elsewhere
It was the last day of VinItaly 2022 and I was steering myself out of one of the 11 gigantic meeting halls when one of my logistics reps called me over to meet his friend Federico and taste his wines. Despite my rather thrashed palate, I obliged and was promptly enthralled, leaving a series of asterisks and exclamation points scribbled alongside various dots of spilled wine. Yes, it had been a long day.
Never one to commit to anything after a long day of tasting, I begged off but made certain to circle back up with Federico and get samples stateside. After re-tasting I determined I was, indeed, of sound mind when I made those scribbles and, after some tough negotiations (these are not inexpensive), committed to a variety of San Felo wines.
Up first are Fattoria San Felo's very unique and beautifully rendered 2018 and 2019 Toscana Pinot Nero's (aka Pinot Noir).
Now, Pinot Nero is a not often seen varietal in Tuscany; however, as James Suckling says about Federico's wines: "Pinot Nero from Tuscany is not usually successful, but this one is very good" and scoring the 2016 and 2017 vintages 91- and 90-point's respectively.
I've not had the 2016, but have had the 2017 and can vouch that the 2018 and 2019 are better wines - they are certainly excellent to fantastic vintages in Tuscany. The 2023 "Guida Oro" Veronelli Italian Wine Guide awarded this 2018 San Felo 91-points.
The vineyards are all estate, planted at 150- to 180-meters above sea level in the rolling hills of Maremma Toscana; however, due to Italian labelling laws (Pinot Nero not recognized as primary to the appellation), the wine can only carry the IGT Toscana appellation.
The grapes are hand-harvested and then aged in barrel for 18-24 months, only a small portion of which, 15%, are new French oak. The result is a elegant-yet-potent Pinot Noir with nuanced complexity and a supple-yet dry richness on the palate with excellent minerality and refined tannins providing perfect balance. Only a thousand cases a year are produced - everything about this wine screams "artisanal".
We have 100 cases each of the 2018 and 2019 vintage's available. Very little makes the states but I've seen pricing as low as $35/bottle and as high as $45.
The wine is on offer today for just $16.50/bottle - an absolutely screaming deal for wine of this caliber.
San Felo 2018 Pinot Nero Pale-to-medium garnet in the glass. The bouquet is lovely, redolent and expressive with black tea, cherry and orange peel notes that complex with ripe strawberry, tobacco and new car leather as the wine opens in the glass. There is a youthful vigor here and it's clear there is even more to come here. Supple-yet-potent on the palate, there is something quintessentially Italian about the structure. Its bone-dry and tangy (not to mention mouthwatering) but with an elegant richness of red fruit and spice that will bring you back for another glass.
100% Maremma Toscana Estate Pinot Noir
