2005 Percarlo

The 2005 Percarlo is understandably a bit tight today. It has great energy and drive from start to finish. The aromas and flavors are quite nuanced and sculpted. Freshly cut flowers, licorice and spices are some of the many notes that come alive in the glass. Ultimately the 2005 stands apart for its gorgeous delineation and finesse. I will not be surprised if the 2005 ends up blossoming even more in bottle.

The 2005 Percarlo is understandably a bit tight today. It has great energy and drive from start to finish. The aromas and flavors are quite nuanced and sculpted. Freshly cut flowers, licorice and spices are some of the many notes that come alive in the glass. Ultimately the 2005 stands apart for its gorgeous delineation and finesse. I will not be surprised if the 2005 ends up blossoming even more in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. This complete vertical of Percarlo left me speechless. Brothers Luca and Francesco Martini di Cigala showed me every vintage of Percarlo, back to the inaugural 1983, a wine that has now run its full course. I was deeply struck by the consistency of the wines from year to year, and even more importantly, by the great showing of a number of wines from long forgotten vintages, proving yet again the importance of choosing producer over vintage. Percarlo started off as a selection of the estate’s best vineyards. In 2001 the Cigalas sharpened their approach by focusing on what is now literally a bunch by bunch selection across all of the fruit that comes into the winery, an approach they favor because of the huge inconsistency Sangiovese can often show from vine to vine, and even within the same cluster. I also tasted a few vintages of the Chianti Classico Le Baroncole, the top Sangiovese bottling made in vintages not deemed suitable for Percarlo. Readers who want to learn more about San Giusto and Percarlo may want to take a look at my recent video interview with proprietor Luca Martini di Cigala. San Giusto a Rentennano Percarlo Key Points: 1. 100% Sangiovese from the estate’s best vineyards in Gaiole 2. A powerful, intense expression of Sangiovese 3. Remarkably consistent, even in lesser years 4. Aging potential: 20+ years

The 2005 Percarlo is ridiculously good, particularly taking into account the challenging vintage. The wine reveals stunning clarity, freshness and purity, with compelling layers of inner perfume in its macerated cherries that emerge from a mid-weight frame. To be sure, the 2005 is not a blockbuster Percarlo, but in this vintage we see more of the feminine side of this great Tuscan wine. The finish is long and sublime. My impression is that the 2005 Percarlo will develop splendidly in the coming years as its full range of aromas and flavors develop in bottle. In the meantime, the 2005 remains a relatively accessible vintage of this wine that can be enjoyed earlier than some of the more important vintages, such as 2004. Needless to say, the 2005 Percarlo is highly recommended.