‘Histrio’ Anfora Toscana Rosso, by Piccini, is a blend of Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera, given 12 weeks maturing in special clay amphorae, which is where the name comes from.
As a bit of context, clay is slightly porous, so tiny amounts of oxygen work their way in over time. It behaves a little like oak in that sense, but without bringing any woody character along with it. What you get instead is softer tannins, a rounder feel in the mouth and less of that hard edge as the wine settles.
This is the 2022 vintage, sitting at 13% ABV. The back label keeps things fairly minimal, though it does mention Vino Biologico, so it is organic. There is also a waxed seal with a long drip, which gives an old world, slightly theatrical feel.
In the glass, it is lighter than you might expect, with a faint browning. The aroma is floral, with red cherry and a touch of sweet paprika. On the taste, it comes across as fruity, with warm spice and a slightly savoury edge. It is dry, with a medium to full body and the tannins are low. The finish carries on with fruit and a gentle herbal touch. There is a nice, slightly oxidative, earthy, savoury character, which makes sense what with the slight browning and makes it particularly good with food.
It comes in at £12.50 on a Mix Six offer exclusively from Majestic.
