Pratesi Il Circo Rosso Carmignano Riserva DOCG 2018

VM 93 pts

The 2018 Carmignano Il Circo Rosso Riserva starts out a bit coy in the glass, slowly revealing a delicate yet deep bouquet of cherry sauce, ginger and autumnal spice offset by a hint of sour citrus. There’s an undeniable elegance to its velvety textures and polished red and black fruits, perfectly balanced by brisk acids and a coating of sweet wood tannin that forms toward the close. This tapers off long, with medium structure and a pleasant inner sweetness and spice that reminds me of a holiday rum cake. It’s really stunning. The Il Circo Riserva is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that was refined for eighteen months in a combination of new and used barriques. — Eric Guido