The rolling hills of Montalcino are home to some of Italy’s finest reds, but most are Sangiovese or Sangiovese-based blends. Le Fughe is a full-bodied Cab Sauvignon that breaks the mold, with lush blue and black fruit flavors, and balsamic and cocoa tones.

The wine hails from Molino di Sant’Antimo, a family-run estate established by Carlo Vittori in the 1980s, which sits at the heart of the sundrenched Val d’Orcia—one of Italy’s most desirable areas.

This is Brunello’s final frontier, and for most, it’s Sangiovese country. But through in-depth soil analysis, the Vittori family identified one site particularly well-suited to Cabernet, from which they believed the grape could “carry the soul of Montalcino,” says Carlo.

Today, the property has expanded to just under 100 acres, with only 27 of those dedicated to vineyards—woodlands, olive groves and Mediterranean bush cover the rest. Everything is farmed organically and methodically.

“In this corner of Montalcino, Cabernet has the ideal environment to enhance its distinctive strong structure, fruit and spice,” says Carlo’s daughter Giulia. (His other daughter, Valeria is the estate’s winemaker, while his wife Susanna manages the office.)

Le Fughe is a perennial 90+ point favorite of critics like James Suckling, but this release promises to be especially enticing thanks to the peculiarities of the 2022 vintage. Though the year was particularly hot and dry, the family’s vines resisted heat stress valiantly, and late August rains gave new vitality. “The grapes’ flavor became concentrated, and their sustained acidity promised freshness,” says Gulia.

Here's what she says to expect from the bottle...

“It’s an extremely solid and decisive wine. The intense bouquet gives ripe blueberries, black currants and black cherry. The palate offers vibrancy and precision, its lush body supported by lively acidity, with balsamic and cocoa notes that lend depth. We believe it will hit its peak in 5–6 years.”

As you may imagine, our stocks of this wine are extremely limited. Order yours while you can.