2019 Danilo Marcucci LitrÓ Rosso 1L

Region: Umbria < Italy

Grapes: 60% Sangiovese, 40% Ciliegolo

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: zero-input, organic farming; limestone soils; spontaneous fermentation in open top resin tanks w/o temperature control; aged in stainless steel and fiberglass tanks; bottled unfined/unfiltered with zero added So2; zero-zero; 12% ABV 

Winemaker: Danilo Marcucci

WINEMAKER RECAP: Danilo Marcucci travels the length of Italy working as a consultant to several wineries, but instead of trying to leave his own stamp on each project he collaborates with the owners to maximize the expression of their own fruit and terroir (try to explain this one to the French!) Each wine has its own personality but uniquely represents its place and the people behind it. Luckily, he married into a family, the Conestabile della Staffa's, who happened to own a bit of land. A minor understatement, as this noble Umbrian family formerly oversaw hundreds of acres of agriculture in the 1700s, producing over 10,000 hectoliters of wine. Production gradually declined and the two World Wars effectively ended it altogether with the last wine produced in 1956. The property and vines were left untended, but no chemicals were ever used. Enter Danilo. Years after marrying heiress Alessandra, he finally focused his efforts on the family property, rehabilitating the vineyards and making wine with the indigenous varieties that had been growing there.

Last summer we had the pleasure of spending time, and drinking more than a few bottles of wine, with Danilo himself in Umbria, listening to him talk about how he tries to coax the minerals out of the soil to marry with the yeasts on the grape skins to create a sort of alchemy that not only presents as “terroir” but also helps stabilize and preserve the wine without additives.  It was transformative, like going to church (for wine) and seeing the light. 

He has the magic touch with wine, so we're stoked that he he made a glou glou red, surprisingly profound yet fun and juicy, in a liter bottle.   This chillable red drinks clean with just the right amount of fruit, earth and body.  Easy and delicious and with so much character, this is the bottle (or two) you bring to your friend's house for a backyard hang.  Everyone loves it, and it goes down fast...

SERVE SLIGHTLY CHILLED.