Cinquecento Sangiovese - 2022

What a thoroughly beautiful sangiovese from McLaren Vale. It’s a variety that can sometimes be slightly edgy and willowy without fruit feel. This one nails it. Interesting 50/50 combination of seasoned French and American oak. I think the American oak has contributed to that smooth rounded palate. Lifted red fruits with a spicy black pepper and subtle sage rosemary characters.
Ray Jordan, Winepilot, February 2024

93 points
Cinquecento, or 500, references the length of the sangiovese vine rows, but no doubt the classic Fiat model and Renaissance art reference are no coincidence. A gentle, cool ferment was followed by 24 months in oak, French with one-third American, but all seasoned. There’s trademark plushness here, with no rough edges, a swell of typic cherry fruit, red and sour, a brush of Mediterranean herbs … the usual suspects, but it’s less savoury and more silky and slinky of feel than more Italianate versions, anchored by varietal acidity more than gruffness of tannin.
Marcus Ellis, Wine Companion, August 2024

93 Points
A sophisticated style of Sangiovese that looks to structure, savouriness, length and a dry, clean finish and, yes, flavour. Impressive. It treats the grape seriously – not always the way with Australian makers – while retaining an essential ripe and peppery Australian-ness. Black cherry, black fruits, bramble, briar, acacia, plum, and background spice are positively lifted by a pepperiness. Savoury oak tannins bring another layer of interest in addition to firmness. Retains the essence of the grape.
Jeni Port, Winepilot, February 2024

92 Points
Diam30. I don’t see this age for 30 years, but it’s a nice drop to drink for the next 10 years, for sure. Or who knows, these things continue to surprise. Unfortunately, mostly not in a good way, hence I’m often conservative with ageing time—rather drink the wine with some youthful freshness than in a dried-out, tired state with a distant memory of what it could have been 10 years earlier.

Beautifully vibrant, translucent ruby colour. Cherry blossom, almond nougat, almond biscuits. Wet clay, wet bark type of umami scents, in between ripe cherries and red plums. Pumice tannins up first mellowing into a cushy, plush and lightly sticky red liquorice aftertaste. It’s a tasty wine reflecting well Sangiovese traits. Pleasing overall, albeit it could strive for a longer finish.
Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front, March 2024

92 Points
Rosehip, Morello cherries and cranberries. Wafts of kiss peppers, birds eye chillies and rose petals. Sage leaf and rosemary stem. Terra cotta and nutmeg. A slippery palate with expected high reaches of acidity and fine dusty tannins. An approachable Sangiovese with a subtle firmness and thirst quenching bite. Drink now and will cellar 3-5 years. A wine that would be perfect with a great woodfired Margarita pizza.
Shanteh Wale, Winepilot, March 2024

91 Points
This well proportioned and juicy 2022 Sangiovese is fresh and vibrant delivering compact aromas of dark cherry and chocolate with an earthy undertow of old oak. The palate gets a bit more serious, with its chewy and quite firm stature underpinning punchy black fruit flavours with wide appeal but just lacking a little classic Sangiovese tension.
Angus Hughson, Winepilot, March 2023

90 Points
A medium intense cherry red hue. Cherry, prosciutto and dried herbs lift from the glass. Medium to full on the palate, red berries are wrapped with gravelly tannins, lingering underneath with see hints of chocolate and dried herbs. Good length to a bone dry finish.
Stuart Knox, The Real Review, May 2024

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