The 2020 Tenuta Montemagno Ruber Grignolino d'Asti is made entirely of the Grignolino grape. The folks at Montemagno say it's "one of the oldest indigenous varieties in the Monferrato," in Italy's Piedmont region. It was apparently known in the Middle Ages as Barbesino, but the name actually comes from a word meaning seeds, since these grapes are full of them. Alcohol sits at 13.5% abv and the wine retails for about $14.
This wine has an extremely light garnet color and a nose of flowers, strawberries and earth. The palate is full of bright red fruit that’s a bit tart, but it's the tannins that will leave you gasping - extremely firm, with a razor's edge acidity. This is not to say it's unpleasant - quite the opposite, in fact. It is a very distinctive wine - one that may possibly have to grow on you. Try it chilled for starters.
