Canonica a Cerreto Sandiavolo Super Tuscan
Pairs with: Traditional Tuscan wild boar ragù over pappardelle, a thick Bistecca alla Fiorentina (grilled T-bone steak) basted with rosemary butter, slow-braised beef short ribs, or a platter of aged Pecorino Toscano cheese.
Good for: Getting a high-value, deeply complex Super Tuscan without the astronomical "cult wine" price tag, anchoring a lavish Italian dinner night, or surprising a fan of bold Napa Cabs with a rustic, beautifully structured Old World alternative.
Grape: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
I am from: Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy (Sourced from estate-owned plots in the sun-drenched hills of Castelnuovo Berardenga).
The Story: Located in the southernmost tip of the prestigious Chianti Classico zone, Canonica a Cerreto is an estate built upon ancient, calcareous-clay soils where vines must dig deep for hydration. While roughly 80% of their production is strictly dedicated to traditional, Sangiovese-dominant Chianti Classico, "Sandiavolo" (a playful Italian portmanteau translating roughly to the "Holy Devil") is their playground for the iconic Super Tuscan style. By stepping outside the rigid legal boundaries of the local DOCG, the winemakers deliberately marry the bright, savory soul of their native Sangiovese with the muscular architecture of Cabernet Sauvignon and the plush, velvety fruit of Merlot. After a careful fermentation utilizing punch-downs to extract maximum color, the wine spends a full 18 months aging in French oak barriques to polish its rugged edges, emerging as a seamlessly integrated cross-cultural masterpiece.
Why You'll Love Me: It is rich, brooding, and wonderfully satisfying, striking a flawless balance between dense, modern fruit and classic, earthy Italian tension. It pours a dense, deep ruby-red color in the glass. The nose is highly expressive and incredibly complex, instantly greeting you with a fragrant bouquet of ripe blackberries, black cherries, and dried violet petals, intricately woven with sophisticated undertones of dark chocolate, new leather, tobacco leaf, and a distinct hint of toasted rosemary. On the palate, it hits with a generous, medium-to-full body and a powerful, mouth-coating texture. A concentrated core of dark plum and sweet spice is framed beautifully by firm, fine-grained tannins, while a vibrant pulse of juicy acidity keeps the dense weight feeling light on its feet, driving into a long, dramatic finish layered with a touch of licorice and savory graphite.
