About this WINE
La Serena, Tuscany
Local lad Andrea Mantengoli has been farming Cantina La Serena since 1988. The farm is next door to Cerbaiona and Biondi Santi, on the eastern shoulder of Montalcino. The vines here are grown at 200-400 metres’ altitude. This covers a range of different soil strata: atypically white and yellow tufo; sand; schist; and galestro. Each gives depth and detail to the wine.
Andrea and his twin brother, Marcello, manage the estate. They are proudly organic, and they use some biodynamic methods. In addition to grapes and vines, the ecosystem here includes spelt, grain, olives and honeybees.
Sangiovese
A black grape widely grown in Central Italy and the main component of Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano as well as being the sole permitted grape for the famed Brunello di Montalcino.
It is a high yielding, late ripening grape that performs best on well-drained calcareous soils on south-facing hillsides. For years it was blighted by poor clonal selection and massive overcropping - however since the 1980s the quality of Sangiovese-based wines has rocketed upwards and they are now some of the most sought after in the world.
It produces wines with pronounced tannins and acidity, though not always with great depth of colour, and its character can vary from farmyard/leather nuances through to essence of red cherries and plums. In the 1960s the advent of Super Tuscans saw bottlings of 100% Sangiovese wines, as well as the introduction of Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon blends, the most famous being Tignanello.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
A lush, ‘everyday’ drinking example of Montalcino’s famous wine. 100% Sangiovese, the larger bunched, smaller berried Brunello clone gives richness as well as style! Andrea Mantengoli’s is no exception; the fruit coming from his damper vineyards below the cantina to give a crunchier, softer skinned (i.e. less maceration) so more immediate wine. Indeed given the ferocity of the sun in 2011, those in the cooler parts of the estate were probably better off. Blueberries and crunchy loganberries characterise the nose, while the palate’s soft, juicy, and still fresh appeal makes it a great partner with any pasta dishes.
David Berry Green
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee