I look forward to the arrival of Montenidoli's Canaiuolo Rosato every year, and I think Elisabetta Fagiuoli's 2025 is one of the best versions she's ever made.
My team and I opened a bottle after work last Saturday, and we were all blown away. It has a complexity and wow factor that I rarely encounter in dry rosés. Most rosés are all about refreshment. This one delivers that, but it also offers real depth, texture, and a remarkable ability to improve with age. If you've never tried it, change that ASAP. : )
The woman behind this remarkable wine is Elisabetta Fagiuoli, now 86 years old and still one of the most passionate and inspiring growers in all of Tuscany. Since she and her late husband, Serio Muratori, purchased the neglected Montenidoli estate in 1965, she has dedicated her life to restoring the vineyards and olive groves without the use of synthetic chemicals. Today, the estate is certified organic and widely regarded as one of Tuscany's benchmark producers for regenerative farming.
Wine Spectator's Bruce Sanderson once wrote that the "wines of Montenidoli are in a class by themselves" and "stand head and shoulders above the rest." I couldn't agree more. Whether it's one of her Vernaccia-based whites, one of her Sangioveses, or this incredible Rosato, there's a signature to these wines that's impossible to mistake.
Made entirely from Canaiuolo, one of Tuscany's historic red grape varieties, this is flowing with beautiful notes of wild raspberry, tart strawberry, blood orange, mineral, and savory herbs. It's vibrant and refreshing, but there's also an intensity and length here that keeps drawing you back for another sip.
That's one of the reasons I look forward to this wine every year. Much like the great rosés of Bandol, this has a proven track record of aging beautifully for several years. That's pretty rare territory for pink wine, and one of the reasons I always buy a few bottles for myself every vintage.
Drink it now with grilled shrimp, Mediterranean seafood, roast chicken, or a classic Niçoise salad, but don't be afraid to stash a couple away either. I think you'll be amazed at how beautifully it develops.
Get some while we have some.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
