La Casella "Vino Nobile di Montepulciano" 2015

Varietal

In Tuscany, the Colorino grape variety is the most commonly grown. The grape is noted for its dark color and is commonly used as a coloring agent in red blends. Because of its obsession with and use of the governo winemaking method, it played a minor role in Chianti’s history. Colorino, like Canaiolo, did not rot easily when partially dried before being added to fermenting grape must. The grape, however, did not have the same amount of fruit or softening effect as Canaiolo, and it fell out of favor. Tuscan winemakers became more involved in the variety in the late 1980s, seeing parallels between it and the part Petit Verdot plays in Bordeaux blends. Colorino was planted to provide darker colors and structure from phenolic compounds in the thick skin of the grape, but without the overpowering aromatics of Cabernet Sauvignon. The resurgence of Colorino was short-lived, and by the turn of the century, it had returned to a minor position in Tuscan wines.