2022 Querciabella - Mongrana (750ml)

Querciabella was founded in 1974 in Chianti Classico, and became one of Italy's earliest adopters of organic farming when Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni began converting the estate's vineyards back in 1988. In 1997, after establishing itself among Chianti's top producers, the Castiglioni family expanded into the wild, then largely undeveloped coastal Maremma, planting new vineyards near Grosseto. The estate now farms over a hundred hectares across Chianti Classico and Maremma combined, all under biodynamic practices, and has built a reputation for uncompromising, natural winemaking across its full range.

Mongrana, first produced in 2005, draws on Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the acidic, iron-rich soils of Maremma, a mix of silt and alluvial sand with pockets of gravel. Grapes are hand-harvested in small crates and fermented in stainless steel, then aged in cement for at least ten months before blending and bottling, an approach designed to preserve freshness rather than add oak character.

The 2022 shows ripe morello cherry, blackberry, and blueberry up front, developing into notes of kirsch, pine, and a touch of licorice with time in the glass. The palate is juicy and structured, with soft tannins and a long, savory finish marked by persistent minerality. It's a versatile match for pasta all'amatriciana, grilled meats, or a simple plate of aged pecorino.