De Monaco & Holland Rosso di Todi Umbria

Importer Notes: Two hours North of Rome, the Medieval hilltop town of Collazzone is in the heart of Umbria, and part of the recently awarded DOC of “Rosso di Todi”, on the Southern border of the DOCG of Montefalco Sagrantino. In Todi DOC the Sangiovese overshadows Sagrantino, and Lorenzo De Monaco has four different biotypes of it planted in his SW-exposed “Agri Segretum,” along with smaller amounts of Colorino, Malvasia Nera, and some newly planted “Grero,” or “Greco Nero,” the dark-skinned cousin of Greco di Tufo. 

With just six hectares in production (and a few more newly planted) Lorenzo’s alchemy is his attention to detail, both in the vineyards (with algae and orange extract treatments as one example of his devotion to homeopathic farming) and in his tiny (but immaculate) cellar, where he experiments with a mix of clay amphorae, Demi-muids, and larger oval botti. He also enjoys the benefit of consulting with Ruggero Mazzilli, whose “Viticoltura biologica” is one of the reference standard texts on biodynamic farming in Italy.

85% Sangiovese, 5% Malvasia Nera, and 10% Sagrantino

Our Tasting Notes: A deep brooding wine that jumps out at you with notes of liquid rock, cola, cherry compote, and sweet bramble fruit. Dry, with gritty tannins and vibrant acidity with prominent oak. Flavors of baking chocolate, bitter herbs, amaro, and luxardo cherry.  A dense wine that needs time, or a nice long decant, to show its core of unsweetened blackberry preserves and luxardo cherry syrup fruit with an amaro like finish.  Serve with a fatty piece of lamb and some hard aged cheese.