Boggina Classico Riserva, Petrolo 2021 75cl
Petrolo are famous for their Merlot, but Boggina C is the wine that shows what their corner of Tuscany can do with Sangiovese. This is a single-vineyard Riserva that trades the usual Chianti signposts for something more precise and more mineral.
The estate lies in the Valdarno di Sopra, a small appellation in the hills between Florence and Arezzo that Petrolo helped revive. The Boggina vineyard gives the fruit for this wine, farmed with real attention on soils rich in the sandy, pebbly deposits the area is known for. The 2021 is pure Sangiovese, aged in oak, and it wears its provenance clearly. This is terroir-driven Tuscan red, not a commercial blend.
Expect a nose of sour cherry, redcurrant and dried rose, with tobacco leaf, balsamic herbs and a distinct savoury, earthy edge. The palate is medium to full-bodied, driven by Sangiovese's signature bright acidity and fine, grippy tannins. There is real energy and tension here, with red and dark fruit playing against a savoury, almost salty mineral core. The finish is long, dry and persistent.
At around £67 this is a considered bottle for someone who wants Sangiovese with detail and structure rather than easy fruit. It is drinking well now with air, and has the acid and tannin to age gracefully for a decade. A wine that rewards attention.
How to Serve
Serve at 16–18°C in a large Burgundy or Bordeaux glass. Decant for at least an hour to open the aromatics.
Where to Drink It
Trullo in Highbury cooks perfectly for it. Bocca di Lupo in Soho knows Tuscan reds. Padella nearby is a fine, informal match.
Food Pairings
Bistecca alla Fiorentina is the dream pairing. Also excellent with a rich wild boar ragù.
