Cerbaiona M.L. Fioretti Collalto Rosso Toscana IGT 2021
Cerbaiona M.L. Fioretti Collalto Rosso Toscana IGT 2021
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Cerbaiona M.L. Fioretti Collalto Rosso Toscana IGT 2021

Cerbaiona M.L. Fioretti
$60.00

Grape: Merlot Sangiovese
Vintage: 2021
Type: Red

The Cerbaiona M.L. Fioretti Collalto Rosso Toscana IGT 2021 is a vibrant and modern "Super Tuscan" expression, typically blending Merlot (around 80%) with Sangiovese. It exhibits a deep ruby color and a complex bouquet of ripe black cherries, black plums, dark chocolate, and savory Italian herbs, underscored by a touch of cedar spice. The palate is dry, medium-to-full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, offering plush dark fruit concentration, velvety tannins, and a refreshing crispness that contributes to an interesting, persistent finish. The vinification involves a meticulous process starting with grape refrigeration and slight crushing before spontaneous fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, followed by cold soaking and *pigeage*. The wine is aged for a period (often in new barriques for other Fioretti releases, suggesting a careful oak regimen here) to integrate flavors before bottling.

Cerbaiona is a venerated and historically significant wine estate in Montalcino, Tuscany, renowned for its highly-sought-after Brunello di Montalcino. Originally founded by Diego Molinari, the estate gained a cult reputation for elegant, traditionally-made Sangiovese.

The winery entered a new era in 2015 when it was acquired by a group of investors led by American wine professional **Matthew Fioretti**, who now serves as the hands-on manager and winemaker. Fioretti undertook a comprehensive and meticulous overhaul of the estate, replanting the small, prime vineyard plots (totaling about four hectares) to Sangiovese Grosso, converting to organic farming, and building a modern, state-of-the-art winery and laboratory to pursue a philosophy of "craftsmanship" and technical precision.

The name **Cerbaiona M.L. Fioretti** (or simply **M.L. Fioretti**) refers to Matthew Fioretti's separate passion project label, distinct from the estate's classic Sangiovese bottlings. Operating out of the same Cerbaiona cellars, the M.L. Fioretti line produces limited-edition, experimental IGT Toscana wines using both indigenous Tuscan grapes and international Bordeaux varietals like Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, often sourced from exceptional vineyards outside the Montalcino appellation. This parallel label allows Fioretti to explore the potential of different varietals and sites in Tuscany with the same exacting standards he applies to the benchmark Brunello.