This Morellino is busy. The marriage between the Maremma Docg wine and the consumer, after the glories of the past, finally seems destined to consolidate, thanks also to the enthusiasm of the younger companies and a renewed confidence of the historical ones, which continue to invest in Maremma convinced that the Morellino cannot be missing in a modern offer of denominations. This is what “Chianti Lovers” revealed, the Preview promoted in Florence by the Consorzio Vino Chianti and, precisely, by the Consorzio Tutela Morellino di Scansano.
“As a Consortium we are carrying out a precise promotional plan for enhance the notoriety of Morellino both in Italy and abroad – explained to FIRSTonline Alessio Durazzi, director of the Consortium – To consolidate our positioning in Italy (which is now worth 75% of the market, ed), we are focusing on enhancing the strengths, namely the territory and the link between Morellino and its production land. But we also aim at mature European foreign markets such as Germany, United Kingdom and Northern Europe in general. Countries where Morellino di Scansano, thanks to its characteristics of freshness, seems to have great potential. Without forgetting other strategic markets, such as United States, Canada, China, Russia”.
Morellino di Scansano - produced in the southern coastal area of the region, enclosed between the valleys of the Ombrone and Albegna rivers - owes its character to the soil conditions and climate: the vineyards are subject to the beneficial influence of sea breezes, which in summer mitigate the high daytime temperatures. There Docg Morellino di Scansano was born in 1978 and, judging by the preview organized in Florence, it is aging very well. He has passed the maturity of his first forty years, the experts say, without losing the characteristics that have made him appreciated, namely drinkability and freshness.
The denomination of Maremma produces ten million bottles a yearsome of which are very interesting. Thus, in Florence some companies have distinguished themselves for the marked personality of the wines and their vintners. “The Docg challenge is important for getting the message of superior quality wines across. The path taken by the Consortium is the right one, we can improve even more”, said Ranieri Moris of the historic Moris Farms which produces Morellino and Morellino Riserva, both Docg, and Avvoltore, Igt Toscana often awarded among the best wines of Italy .
The sip of Morellino More 2018 di Monterò is greedy and fragrant. “More, in English, because it lets people know di più on the territory”, explained Milena Cacurri who arrived in the Monterozzino estate in Magliano in Toscana in 2009 and now, thanks also to the collaboration with the oenologist Stefano Chioccioli, makes this organic wine with a fresh and savory taste at the same time.
A pleasant surprise then comes from the three DOCGs of Tenuta Pietramora di Colle Fagiano. "We start with Germile, then move on to Brumaio, both vinified in purity, 100% Sangiovese, and finish with Pietramora where there is 15% Merlot that ages in tonneaux", explains Gaia Cerrito who manages the company together to her father Pietro. Graduated in painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, she made the sketches from which the three labels were obtained with watercolor.
Positive, then, the first feedback from the previews: on the one hand the 2016 reserves, characterized by elegance and aging capacity, on the other the 2018, represented by the Vintage labels. Last year's mild climate allowed good production volumes and excellent grape quality, resulting in lively wines with well-marked characteristic aromas and scents.
The next appointment with Morellino and its producers will be in Scansano in May, the heart of its 1.500 hectares of vineyards, where we will talk about wine tourism, a constantly growing phenomenon in Italy as well.
