Podere della Civettaja is Paolo Salvi's small project in the Casentino, the upper Arno valley in the province of Arezzo, far from the usual Tuscan wine circuits. Here, in cool, wooded hill country, he bet on a grape that few manage to express properly in Tuscany: Pinot Noir.
The vineyards lie at altitude, where wide day-night temperature swings and slow ripening let Pinot Noir keep its aromatics and acidity. The approach is artisanal and quantities are very limited; in the cellar the aim is purity of fruit rather than the imprint of oak.
2019 was a balanced vintage that produced a fine, taut wine: raspberry, wild strawberry, pomegranate, dried rose, forest floor and delicate spice, with silky tannins and a freshness that carries the finish. One of Italy's most original and sought-after Pinot Noirs, worth tasting alongside the best from Alto Adige. With pigeon, duck, mushrooms or Tuscan salumi.
At a glance: Pinot Noir 100% · 14% ABV · 0.75 l · Podere della Civettaja, Casentino (AR)