***BOTTLING EARLY OCTOBER, SHIPPING SHORTLY AFTER***
How 'bout another Napa Valley grand entrance for the week?
For the first time in the history of our Lot series, we’re welcoming a domestic Sangiovese! In its native Italy, this grape is the glowing heart of the solar system when it comes to Brunello, Chianti, and Super Tuscans, but in California it’s more of a hidden moon. That wasn't always the case – Italian immigrants brought cuttings from the Old Country in the 1800s, and over the years it’s even been bottled by legendary names like Shafer and Dalla Valle, but today it accounts for less than 0.5% of the total Napa crop. What little remains are passion projects by winemakers via tiny, premium programs, and nabbing one is extremely elusive.
That makes sealing a deal like this especially satisfying, and it’s with great pleasure that we bring you a needle in a haystack worthy of being our inaugural release.
Lot 627 is a 100% Sangiovese from a multigenerational, family-owned producer (there are so few selling at its price point we can’t be any more detailed than that). This is a distinctly Napa interpretation of the grape: polished and concentrated, but still defined by the acidity and savory character that make Sangiovese so compelling. Think high-end Chianti Classico Riserva with a California accent. It takes a deft touch in the vineyard and cellar to get the most out of this slow-growing, late-ripening varietal, but all those decades of vineyard wisdom are on full display here, resulting in one of the valley’s best expressions of this rare grape. Our source sells this for a relatively reasonable price in the $65/bottle range, but we’ve negotiated it down to under $20!
Our price: $109/6-pack, $18+/bottle!
Sangiovese thrives in the free-draining soils of our source’s vineyard, carefully tended to maximize the concentration of the grapes while allowing them to retain abundant acidity. Hand-picked and sorted before fermenting in small stainless-steel tanks, the juice saw extended aging in a no-expense-spared wood program that imbued this naturally vibrant wine with fabulous structure.
Black cherry and red currant abound on the nose, lifted by black pepper, dried florals, and clove, haloed by thyme and figs. The entry is exceptionally balanced: bright acidity is interwoven with red fruit, cracked peppercorns, leather, and hints of balsamic, all backed by medium-grained, perfectly integrated tannins. The finish is dry and full-flavored for a Sangio – red fruits and herbs resonate with great length before vanilla bean reveals itself for the extended coda. Superb.
