On this weekend the time had come – I took the new (Berlin) holiday as an opportunity to enjoy a red wine that I had not yet heard of. The bottle I got hold of was a real organic wine, the LaSelva MORELLINO di Scansano DOCG 2018.

The bottle already comes in a “new dress” – whereby the new design of LaSelva BIO wines is simple and down-to-earth. This Italian wine comes from the Tuscan Maremma, which is already known far beyond the borders of Italy for its good wines.

At Cantina LaSelva, the professionals under the direction of winemakers Roland Krebser and Giulio Serafinelli have been pressing their own range of vegan, modern low-sulphur organic wines certified by Naturland for 20 years now – the latter is now following in Krebser’s footsteps this year. These wines have a very low sulphur content due to the vinification process they are and mainly made from local grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo or the rediscovered grape variety Pugnitello.

As the production of MORELLINO di Scansano DOCG is only around 30,000 bottles per year, it is always a good idea to put a few bottles aside in time. The Morellino is aged for eight months in large stainless-steel tanks and then in the bottle for another three months. According to LaSelva, the MORELLINO has a shelf life of five to six years – although it is so tasty that this will certainly be difficult to keep.

By the way, the name of the wine derives from the fact that the “aged” Sangiovese (“Blood of Jupiter”) grape is called Sangiovese Morellino in the south of Tuscany. Even though the genetic origin of the Sangiovese grape has not yet been conclusively clarified due to many contradictory findings, this grape is the basis of many Tuscan wines.

The wine of these grapes is characterised by a light red colour, a high proportion of tannins and a strong acidity ([g/l] 5.03). Aromas that are attributed to the Sangiovese grape are mainly the red fruits. Here, besides the aromas of cherry, cranberry, blackberry, elderberry & plum, vanilla, violets and even leather meet.

The added 10% of the Merlot grape further enhances the ruby red of the MORELLINO from LaSelva. Here the Merlot with its cherry, plum and leather notes “doubles” the basic aromas of the Sangiovese grape. In addition, this also adds nuances of caramel, blueberry and blackcurrant. The tannins provide the not only proverbial “blue tongue” in no time at all.

The MORELLINO captivates by its complexity, the full-bodied body and a wide range of aromas. He has an elegant freshness and a very fruity & soft finish. In addition, I had the olfactory impression of strawberries – even if they are not attributed to the Sangiovese or Merlot grapes. The wine closed with a natural cork did not need any standing time after opening and could be enjoyed immediately.

The MORELLINO di Scansano DOCG 2018 is produced in 2018 with 14% alcohol by volume and with its smooth oily consistency is not inferior to good Australian Shiraz wines despite the lower alcohol content. The recommended serving temperature is 18°C, although I personally think 21°C is better. LaSelva‘s MORELLINO can be placed in the lower midfield in terms of price at just under 14 Euros per litre – but with its taste the MORELLINO plays in the league of expensive wines!

I left the bottle with one third of the wine closed in the kitchen for about 3 days – when I tasted it, the wine had again developed positively. Already the perfume went more in the direction of a good port or old sherry – although hardly possible, the MORELLINO had become a good bit softer and also spicier.

This wine is a reliable companion when enjoying meat dishes – especially beef, game & lamb – but also with Italian pasta and desserts like mousse au chocolate or chocolate around 60% cocoa. Incidentally, in terms of harmony, it makes no difference whether the meat is roasted, braised or grilled.

The MORELLINO di Scansano DOCG  has already won several prizes – and rightly so. This is where the love and care of the professional winemakers pays off. At the International Organic Wine Award MUNDUS, the MORELLINO di Scansano DOCG 2018 has won one of the gold medals in the 2018 vintage.

Very important for me in judging a wine is always the first impression of my wife. I have to say that my wife is not really a wine lover, but if she likes a wine – it is always a particularly tasty one. The MORELLINO had already done it to her at the first tentative sip and that should mean a lot.

The only drawback of this wine is that it still has a noteworthy amount of sulphite as an allergen. So, if you have a tendency to “red cheeks & indisposition” when drinking red wine, you should approach it carefully. A small tip for all those who are familiar with these effects and still don’t want to miss out on a red wine experience – just go for Mollydooker wines. These are sealed using nitrogen and have a negligible amount of sulphite!

So much for LaSelva‘s MORELLINO di Scansano DOCG 2018 – certainly one of the few wines that has managed to surprise again for a long time. If you like rich, fruity and spicy red wines, I can only warmly recommend this wine to you. Have fun trying it out…