Le Sommelier present’s Sting’s Message in a Bottle 2016 at the LCBO…
Tenuta Il Palagio, tucked seamlessly into Tuscany’s fertile and lush rolling hills, has been a vine growing and wine making estate since the 16th century. The peaceful 350 hectare sanctuary has been the summer home of Sting and Trudie Styler for more than two decades. Over that time, they’ve carefully restored the historic property’s vineyards and olive groves, as well as the main villa, and guesthouses, transforming the estate into a vibrant and fully functioning organic farm and vineyard. Befitting the property’s lineage, the couple worked with highly renowned consultants to help realize the vineyards’ true potential, including viticulturist Alan York, terroir scientist Pedro Parra, and winemaker Paolo Caciorgna. Tuscan born and bred into a winemaking family, Caciorgna has worked as an oenologist in California and France, but has always felt that Italy is where his heart belongs. He consults for over thirty fine wine producers in his native country, including over twenty in Tuscany alone.
Il Palagio’s 11 hectares of vineyards are biodynamically tended and certified organic. Message in a Bottle is based on estate fruit, and also incorporates fruit from neighbouring vineyards. Each cuvée is designed to encapsulate a different aspect of their property, and for Sting and Trudie to share the story of their very special part of the world with others.
I’m soon heading back to Tuscany for my annual August visit to Il Palagio. Here is a short clip I shot of Sting preforming for us all a couple of summers ago at this magical estate.
I’m pleased to share this special moment, and these special wines, with you.
Cheers,
Le Sommelier
416.603.7026
bernard@lesommelier.com
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Il Palagio Message in a Bottle IGT Toscana 2016
When Sting wrote his iconic song Message in a Bottle, he sang of the universal human need to connect. This is Il Palagio’s single wine not exclusively from estate grapes, but crafted in conjunction with fruit from neighbouring Tuscan vineyards. This versatile and very drinkable Toscana IGT is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Syrah, and 15% Merlot, and was fermented in stainless before aging in French oak barrels for 12 months. With a complex aroma of cherries, wild blackberries and spices, this wine will complement many dishes.
Grapes: Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $24.95 (per 750 mL bottle)
LCBO#: 517029
”Yum. So perfumed and pretty on the nose with Indian spices and ripe fruit, such as plums. Full-bodied yet focused and well-formed, showing firm yet fine tannins. A juicy finish. From biodynamically grown grapes.” Score: 93 - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Sept 11, 2018
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