Watkins Russo Sangiovese 2022

14 days on skins. Matured in the barrel for 8 months. White strawberries, yellow plum and Rainier cherries. Cherry pit, galangal root, white pepper, dried goji berries. Grainy tannins with elevated acidity. The wine has good structure and frame with a lot more earthenware and dried woody herbs this vintage. Oregano, pepperberry and macerated strawberries. There is the red fruit and savoury notes you’d expect in the Tuscan variety but with a bit of a modern spin. Drink now and will cellar for another 2-3 years. A wine that would look pretty smick amongst mushroom dumplings and black vinegar.

Shanteh Wale

Contributor at Wine Companion

Shanteh cut her teeth at Sydney’s Award-Winning Quay restaurant where she worked for over a decade and was Head Sommelier from 2018 till 2022. She has been nominated for the Good Food Guide Sommelier of the Year award on three occasions and claims that her experience as a Len Evans scholar as one of the highlights of her career. Shanteh hosts her own weekly podcast ‘Over A Glass’ with the Deep in the Weeds Network and spends her time writing for various publications and judging at numerous wine shows across the country.

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