2014 Ampeleia, Alicante, Costa Toscana IGT Rosso, Italy.
The Elisabetta Foradori natural Alicante from Ampeleia is a wonderful and vibrant example of Mediterranean influenced Grenache from the coastal site near Maremma in south western Tuscany. Most commonly found in Spain and France, there is now some provoking thoughts being given to the idea that this grape have in fact come from Sardinia, where it is known as Cannonau, though for the last few decades the wine world thought it was originally from Spain, it is called a few different names in Italy, but Alicante Nero is it’s main moniker, and is no relation the red juiced, super inky, Alicante Bouchet. The Ampeleia Alicante is grown in sandy soils with a pebbly cover, perfect for Grenache, at about 250 meters that allows for a drier/cooler nighttime, which gives freshness and health to the hanging grapes for complex and details flavors with enough acidity to balance the varietal’s sweet fruitiness. The 2014 is opulent and caressing on the palate with red plum, raspberry, loganberry, kirsch and spiced strawberry with pepper, lavender, bay leaf and dusty stones along with hint of peach flesh and anise. This ruby/garnet hued red is lush in mouth feel, but vital and lively with a medium bodied, it was fermented all natural with native yeasts, whole cluster and aged only in cement tanks for 6 months, and with ripe supple tannin smoothly layered into this intriguing organic wine. Ampeleia is a winery to check out with a sublime selection of hand crafted wines to chose from offering a great contrast to Fodadori’s home estate in Alto Adige, drink this Alicante over the next 2 or 3 years.
($34 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
