Podere Canatino
Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Montalcino has become one of Italy’s most famous wine regions, largely thanks to Brunello, but some of the most enjoyable bottles from the area come from producers making wines with a little less weight and a little more immediacy. Podere Canatino captures that side of Montalcino beautifully.
Working entirely with Sangiovese, the estate focuses on wines that respect the structure and character of the region while remaining approachable in their youth. Rosso di Montalcino forms an important part of the range, offering a fresher and more accessible expression of the same grape that eventually becomes Brunello.
The wines carry classic Tuscan character. Sour cherry, dried herbs, red plum, earth and gentle spice all appear naturally, supported by bright acidity and fine tannins. There is enough structure to remind you where the wine comes from, but not so much that it requires a decade in a cellar before becoming enjoyable.
The use of native yeasts and relatively restrained oak helps keep the fruit and vineyard character at the centre of things. Nothing feels overworked. The wines remain expressive, savoury and distinctly Italian.
Montalcino can occasionally drift into luxury-brand territory, but smaller producers like Podere Canatino provide a useful reminder that the region’s real strength still lies in Sangiovese grown on remarkable hillsides and handled with care.
