La Ciarliana, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, 2019

La Ciarliana was the first vineyard I visited on the job.

Luigi, the no nonsense (and certainly no english speaking) don showed me round. There's no frills, but the wine is simply delicious - a fact that's reflected in the wine's online reputation.

This family vineyard is all about hard work, honest know-how, and a tradition stretching back to the Etruscan period.

Sadly, not every vineyard I visited since has lived up to the same heights, but I always use La Ciarliana as a yardstick for 'no bullshit' in wine.

24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels and subsequent refinement in the bottle.