Tasting notes:

Located in Castellina-di-Chianti, the Santedame parcels are named after the fresco painting of the virgin Mary in the small family church, attributed to Ghirlandaio’s group of artists. This wine, the Romitorio, ‘Hermitage’ in Italian, is a selection of grape bunches from exclusive parcels high in the hills. A Hermitage-type indeed, this wine has deep ruby-purple colour and cassis, blackberry and sweet, dark cherry fruit, with coconut, roasted coffee and cedar wood accents. Dry, the wine’s flavours are powerful and rich, supported by fine-grained tannins and good freshness. Youthful, concentrated and succulent, this is a wine to match velvet-textured beef and black bean chilli with only a gentle red chilli spice note, served with a freshly-made, creamy guacamole. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)