Red Blend, 2019. Privo

Privo is the work of the La Selva co-op founded in 1980 in the Maremma district of Tuscany. They are about as far up the chain of organic, sustainability and noninterference as you can get. The entire winery is underground, keeping the temperature and humidity at a constant year-round. All of their power is produced by solar panels leaving a zero carbon footprint. They use no added sulfites in their wine.

There are sulfites which naturally occur in wine. It's Mother Nature's way of protecting itself. Sulfites, on their own, are not harmful. They can be overbearing when used in excess. But, Mother Nature doesn't do that. Obviously, this kind of attention and fastidiousness is also found in their wines. They ferment on native yeasts so that no outside influence is present, only the natural conditions of the vineyard and the grapes themselves.

Our blend is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Alicante. These are the classic grapes of the Maremma, an area which has existed in the shadows of Tuscany for centuries and now just finding its footing in the wine world. We love presenting wines like this to our members. While there is no argument regarding Chianti's place in the wine world, we also like featuring pleasant alternatives.

Our selection is a worthy example. The fresh flavors and density is remarkable. Spice, licorice, and blackberry abound from the glass depositing flecks of remarkable extracts and finishing with a flourish. Substantial dishes like Chateaubriand or roast pork would be just the ticket.

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