Sangiovese is the most widely-planted grape of Italy, and specifically Chianti, and it is also an ancient one. As with many old varieties, untangling Sangiovese's origins is complicated, appearing to be of Tuscan origin, but having progeny around southern and central Italy and even Sicily. To add further to the confusion, a number of unrelated varieties are cultivated under the name Sangiovese and there are many slightly differing cultivated varieties of the grape. Sangiovese does need to be carefully handled but it can make wines of intense aroma, structure, concentration and longevity. Spice and red and black cherry fruit abound when young, bottle age often developing smoked, meaty aromas and flavours.
