Subbia Antica Rosso di Montalcino 2015 750ML

For wine lovers in the know, Rosso di Montalcino offers a great-value alternative to pricey Brunello. So when we found this lovely example, we scooped it up immediately.

Subbia Antica hails from an estate in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, home to some of the region’s most prestigious red wines. After selecting their finest parcels of Sangiovese, the team barrel aged the wine for twelve months. This process imparted toasty oak and vanilla spice notes to the wine’s vibrant red cherry and black plum flavors.

Sangiovese is the flagship grape of Tuscany—made famous by Chianti but also Montalcino, which has a warm, dry climate and rockier, less fertile soils (both help Sangiovese grapes gain incredibly deep, concentrated flavors and robust structure).

And with a vintage like 2015, you really don’t want to miss out.

In Tuscany, “it seems that everything is simply outstanding,” raves expert James Suckling. Furthermore, he praised the Rossos specifically: “They may be the best Rosso di Montalcinos I have ever tasted. … Some have called Rosso di Montalcino baby Brunello merely because the designation is made from Sangiovese and comes from the same general area as its older brother. Yet in 2015, the wines live up to the moniker.”

A very smart buy, from an exceptional vintage—hurry for your share.

Note: We recommend decanting an hour before serving to allow its complex aromas and flavors time to develop. Then, enjoy glass alongside charcuterie and firm, aged cheeses. For the main course, try wild boar ragù pappardelle or spaghetti bolognese. Tasty vegetarian matches include eggplant lasagna or mushroom- and spinach-stuffed pasta shells.