Villa Ragazzi Sangiovese 2014 Napa Valley, California, USA 75cl

Villa Ragazzi is a tiny family estate that put Sangiovese on the Napa map. The Rodeno family planted the first Sangiovese in the valley in 1985, from their own proprietary clone, and have made small quantities of the wine since 1989. Distribution has always been limited, which makes the wine something of a collector’s curiosity.

This is a pure Sangiovese, the great red grape of Tuscany, grown in the warmth of Napa Valley. In Californian sunshine it keeps its trademark bright acidity and savoury character while gaining a little more flesh and ripeness than it would in Chianti, giving an Italian heart in a Napa frame.

By 2014 vintage this wine has taken on the developed, secondary notes that suit Sangiovese so well, its fruit turning from fresh to dried and its structure settling. It is drinking in a mature, savoury style and is best enjoyed now.

Expect aromas of dried cherry, tomato leaf and dried herbs with a touch of leather, a medium body, and the firm, mouth-watering acidity that makes Sangiovese such a fine food wine. Fine tannins carry a long, savoury finish. It is made for the table: a tomato-rich pasta, roast pork, osso buco, or a wedge of aged pecorino.

If you love Chianti Classico or a Tuscan Sangiovese and are curious how the grape fares in Napa, this pioneering bottle is a genuine talking point. It is a characterful, food-loving red for a relaxed Italian-inspired dinner with friends. Serve it at cool room temperature to keep its savoury freshness lively.