Fattoria di Magliano Heba 2023, Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Tuscany, Organic

Heba is the Morellino di Scansano of Fattoria di Magliano, a certified organic estate in the Maremma, the coastal hills of southern Tuscany. Morellino is the local name for Sangiovese, and Heba is made from 95% Sangiovese with 5% Syrah, grown on well-drained, sandy soils on slopes that run down towards the Tyrrhenian Sea. The grapes are gently destemmed and crushed and fermented in stainless steel for 15 to 20 days, to keep the focus on bright, fresh fruit. The name Heba was the Etruscan name for the town of Magliano, and the label shows an ancient Etruscan head found at a nearby archaeological site.

In the glass it is a bright, intense ruby red. The nose is fragrant and floral, with cherry, red berries, wild strawberry and blackberry, and hints of violet. The palate is fresh, fruity and dry, with soft, rounded tannins, good balance and an easy, refreshing finish.

Serve at around 16–18°C. It is a very versatile red: try it with pasta with meat or vegetable ragù, cured meats and crostini, pizza, mushroom risotto, roast or grilled meats and medium-aged cheeses. Enjoy it now while it is young and fruity, or keep it for three to four years.

Fattoria di Magliano is an organic estate in the Maremma in southern Tuscany, near the village of Magliano in Toscana. It was founded in the late 1990s by Agostino Lenci, who had a long career in the footwear industry before following his dream of making wine, and is now run with his son Nicola. The first vines, Sangiovese and Vermentino, were planted in 1998, and these two grapes still make up most of the vineyards, alongside Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The vineyards slope gently towards the Tyrrhenian Sea, with views of the island of Giglio and Monte Argentario, on sandy, well-drained soils. The estate moved to organic viticulture in 2011, and all its wines have been certified organic since 2014.