2019 Otto Ettari - Montecucco Rosso (750ml)

Otto Ettari, meaning "eight hectares," began in 2015 when cousins Manfred and Andreas Kunert, together with their wives Andrea and Corina, purchased a small parcel of vineyard and olive land in Montenero d'Orcia, within the Montecucco DOCG zone. The property came from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona, one of Tuscany's best-known Brunello producers, and the Kunerts have worked since with winemaker Gianni Bartolommei and oenologist Jacopo Vagaggini with a shared goal of bringing wider recognition to Montecucco's Sangiovese-based reds.

The estate's eight hectares sit on a sunny, stony hillside in southern Tuscany's Maremma, benefiting from the volcanic influence of nearby Monte Amiata along with limestone in the soil, a combination that helps the vines retain water even through dry summers. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel with frequent pump-overs, followed by malolactic fermentation and a period of aging in wood before bottling.

The wine offers aromas of ripe fruit and spice, with notes of raspberry and dried rose touched by balsamic hints. The palate is rich and silky, with soft, well-integrated tannins and a warm, lingering finish. Pair it with grilled sausages, aged cheeses, or a rustic braised stew.