2021 Fattoria Ambra 'Santa Cristina in Pilli' Carmignano, Tuscany, Italy   

Ten miles northeast of Florence lies the town of Carmignano, where Cabernet Sauvignon has been grown under the name Uva Francesca for generations, and where it is not only allowed but braided into the backdrop of wine culture of the appellation entirely. These grapes along with regional varieties Canaiolo and Colorino make up the blend for Ambra's traditional styled "entry level: Carmignano. This wine embodies what makes the word "rustic" so attractive to us as wine drinkers: its larger-grained, pleasantly rugged tannins enticing the drinker to reach for the glass again and again. Sangiovese's telltale sour cherry fruit is the centerpiece, but the brooding black bouquet of the Uva Francesca lurks in the background and the warm, earthy spice of the region dances across the palate.