Often confused with Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, which means small cherries, usually comprises part of a blend. But a few producers, such as Fibbiano, make a monovarietal wine from it. This is a lovely example, combining cherry-like fruit, earthiness and an attractive subtle bitterness in the finish. Not a stand-alone aperitivo type wine, it is a fantastic choice for pasta with a hearty ragù.
Fattoria Fibbiano, Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) Ciliegiolo 2015
By Michael Apstein