Tenuta di Valgiano

Mazzapink feels like Sangiovese with the windows down. It comes from Martino Petrini, Laura’s son and the next generation at Valgiano, working with San Pietro in neighbouring Marcigliano. The fruit comes from the Mazzarosa vineyards, hence the name, while Valgiano handles the winemaking. It is 100% Sangiovese, but in a particularly joyful register…wild strawberries and crushed raspberries at first, then it goes darker and spicier, like blueberry, white peppercorn, juicy blood orange, baked olive and tart rhubarb, finishing with a little sweet tobacco. It is simply delicious, wholesome, slightly unruly Sangiovese.

The label tells you quite a lot about the wine before you even pull the cork. Sara di Giovanni folds Lucca’s comic-book culture, the surrounding Tuscan hills and Valgiano’s biodynamic horn into this wonderfully strange little world where wine seems to be flowing everywhere. It is colourful, slightly chaotic and full of life, which, come to think of it, is a pretty good description of Mazzapink too.