2019 Carpineta Fontalpino - Toscana Rosso Do ut des (750ml)

Carpineta Fontalpino has belonged to the Cresti family since Italo Cresti built the modern winery in 1967, though traces of winemaking on the site reach back to the nineteenth century. Today his children Filippo, Gioia, and Sara run the estate, with Gioia overseeing production. The property sits near the historic Montaperti hill outside Castelnuovo Berardenga, a site of a thirteenth-century battle between Siena and Florence later immortalized by Dante. The winery's name comes from two local landmarks, the hornbeam grove known as Carpineta and the pine-shaded spring called Fontalpino, and the roughly ninety-hectare estate is farmed under certified organic practices.

Do ut des, Latin for "I give so that you may give," is Carpineta Fontalpino's flagship Super Tuscan, blending organically farmed Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grown in vineyards close to Montaperti hill. The grapes are fermented separately by variety before the finished blend spends an extended period aging in French oak, a process that builds structure and depth while allowing the fruit to stay forward and expressive.

This 2019 pours a deep, almost opaque ruby. The nose layers blackberry and ripe plum with cocoa, cedar, and a touch of balsamic spice. On the palate it turns full-bodied and velvety, with polished tannins and balanced acidity carrying through to a long finish. Pour it with grilled ribeye, braised short rib, or dark chocolate desserts.