The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Tuscany

DOCStill huntingModerate

Montecucco DOC

IL PROGETTODOCMONTECUCCOAAIT52811601Denominazione di Origine Controllata

No strip issued. I'm still hunting a bottle.

Montalcino's neighbor across the Orcia river, warmer and cheaper, with Sangiovese grown on volcanic and clay soils at decent altitude. The reds run to ripe black cherry, plum, dried herbs and a dusty, medium-grip tannin, usually softer than Brunello's and ready younger. The DOC covers blends and the white and rosato; the pure Sangiovese bottlings now carry the separate DOCG. ColleMassari is the estate that put the zone on the map and remains the reference.

Still hunting

I'm still looking for a bottle of this.

If you make Montecucco, import it, or know who does, the form takes two minutes and I reply to every one.

Can you help me get one?

Bottles I'm chasing

  • Castello ColleMassari

    Montecucco Rosso Rigoleto

    The everyday bottle from the zone's flagship estate (Winebow): Sangiovese with Ciliegiolo and Montepulciano, black cherry, bay leaf, soft tannin, made to drink now.

    $17 to $22Wine-Searcher

  • Castello ColleMassari

    Montecucco Rosso Riserva ColleMassari

    The step-up: more oak, more depth, dark plum, tobacco and a firmer finish, and a good proxy for what the DOC can do at its best.

    $28 to $35Wine-Searcher

  • Salustri

    Montecucco Rosso Santa Marta

    Small organic producer working old Sangiovese clones at Poggi del Sasso; savory, red-fruited, less polished than ColleMassari and worth hunting via Wine-Searcher.

    $20 to $25Wine-Searcher