SER PRIMO IGT ROSSO TOSCANA: A “BABY” SUPER TUSCAN WORTH KNOWING!

Don’t you love it when you chance upon a wonderful wine?

A few nights ago, while dining on a patio on a warm summer evening, I had a beautiful wine called Ser Primo IGT Rosso Toscana 2017.  It was my first time trying this wine - though I am a self-professed lover of Italian wine, there is still so much to learn and try and I have not encountered this label yet.  But boy, am I ever glad I did because it’s got a story that’s worth knowing, and a taste profile that’s worth enjoying!

Of course, I immediately googled this wine. You can easily do the same! If you do so, you’ll see that this is a popular wine by an esteemed producer. And I’m not the only one that thinks it’s a fabulous wine and often referred to as a Baby Super Tuscan by the winemaker.

But before I get into talking about why I think the Ser Primo IGT Rosso 2017 is so noteworthy, I have a basic question for you. Have you ever had a Super Tuscan before?  Or are you wondering what that even means?  Let’s look at this together before we look at this stellar wine.

FOR STARTERS, WHAT EXACTLY IS A SUPER TUSCAN?

Do you ever find it hard to ask questions publicly when you don’t understand or know something? I do! I can’t help but wonder why this is. Not knowing something is a perfectly normal human condition. And asking questions is so very important if you want to learn and grow. Yet, we all hold back at times, afraid to say we don’t know something for fear of being judged or seen as a simpleton. I find this to be particularly true when it comes to wine. Unless you’re a certified somm, it can be difficult to know everything (and I think this is probably true even for somms!) or even know what you don’t know.

For years, I was embarrassed to ask the following basic question - what exactly is a Super Tuscan? Are you with me on this one? 

Well my friends, I’d like to tell you that the answer is simple...but as is the case with many things in Italian winemaking, it is not actually simple at all.  The simple part is that the term Super Tuscan is an unofficial term.  What I mean by this is that is not a recognized tier in Italy’s wine classification system.

Having said that, Super Tuscans are generally associated with IGT wines (which are near the bottom of the italian wine classification system). The term Super Tuscan originated back in the 1970s and is used to denote wines that are unable to attain DOC or DOCG status (a higher, more posh moniker) for many reasons, but generally speaking it is because they either include non-indigenous grape varieties or are made utilizing non-traditional winemaking practices for the region.  Super Tuscans have attracted worldwide fame - think Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Tignanello - and staggering prices to boot.  So popular is the Super Tuscan, that many winemakers are now voluntarily opting to have their wines labelled as such. Generally speaking, Super Tuscans are generally a big deal in the wine world. I guess it pays off to be an outcast in the highly regulated italian wine-making world! :)

There’s a ton more to unpack when it comes to Super Tuscans, but let’s start and end here for now. Us aspiring wine geeks don’t really need to know much more than this! :)

AND NOW, ON TO THE WINE!

Hailing from Radda in Chianti (in Tuscany), Ser Primo IGT Rosso is made by Poggio di Guardia.  Poggio di Guardia is a winery that is the result of a project between two renowned winemakers, Federico Cerelli and Stefano di Blasi, both of whom have a storied history in winemaking (if you know a bit about Tuscan wines, both winemakers are associated with the great Antinori, amongst other things!).  The winery is located atop the Chianti mountains on land that was inhabited by the Estruscans and Romans and which was lying dormant for almost 50 years before being replanted with grapevines in the mid 2000s.  Embracing a philosophy of letting nature speak for itself, Poggio di Guardia is an exclusive winery with a limited production. It makes two wines - one with its own name, and the other, the Ser Primo. 

Marketed as a “baby” Super Tuscan, Ser Primo seems to be the younger, less cool sibling of the Grand Dame bearing the winery’s name.  Made from a blend of 40% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 20% sangiovese, the component wines are aged for eight months in oak barrels (40% new French oak), then blended into the Ser Primo and bottled, and then aged for another four months in bottle before being released for sale.  The resulting wine is a magnificent example of what a Super Tuscan can be. I think this wine is so good that it does not need to be compared to anything else in my humble opinion! And to make matters even better, this wine is a very affordable option! Two thumbs up, all the way!!!!

MY TASTING NOTES

This wine opens beautifully on the nose, with notes of leather, earth and red fruit.  The palate is full bodied, with smooth tannins and a touch of noticeable acidity.  On the palate, the wine is big and juicy, with a long finish and nice minerality.  As you might expect with sangiovese, there are cherry flavours abound, but they are smoothed out nicely by the blend and therefore not as tart as a standard Chianti.

MY PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

Pair this wine with cured meats, hard cheese, steak off the grill, beef burgers or pasta with meat sauce. 

I personally ate this with a full mixed grill off of the BBQ consisting of ribs, sausage, jerk chicken and sides.  Perhaps not the “best” pairing, but remember, I’m not a somm, I’m just a wine loving mom, so this worked just great for me! :):):)

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you find this wine, do yourself a favour and buy a bottle (or three :)). You won’t regret it!

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Salute!