INSIDER'S PICK: 2021 FATTORIA PETRIOLO CHIANTI GOVERNO ALL'USO TOSCANO 'RENE' $15.99

The 'Governo' method of fermentation is a remnant from the earliest times of winemaking, originally done to fix a specific problem but now used as a fun way to make a wine taste good. The process involves adding a small portion of grape clusters dried after harvest back into the fermentation tanks, initially done to provide extra sugar for the yeasts if they start to slow or get 'stuck' before fermenting the wine as dry as they wanted. Nowadays there are a lot more precise and efficient ways to avoid this problem, but adding the dried grapes in does give the wine a little more texture and dark fruit; not as intensely as a Ripasso or Apassimento wine (which soak the dried grapes longer to get more tannins extracted out), but just enough to plump it out a bit. A deeper ruby color and a bit less transparent in te glass than your usual Tuscan red at this price point, as well as some extra blackberry and currant on the nose over the Tuscan herb and dried spice aromas that are such Chianti earmarks. The palate has great polish and weight without feeling gritty, showing nice dark fruit that gets dry and dusty on the finish. Easy and fun for traditional Italian fans with no new oak presence at all, just Tuscan goodness at a great price.

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