Pizzini Forza di Ferro Sangiovese 2021 from Victoria’s King Valley is a powerful, single‑site sangiovese drawn from iron‑rich, volcanic soils – a deep ruby, firmly structured red that leans into the “strength of iron” promised by its name. Pizzini Forza di Ferro Sangiovese 2021 sits at the top of Pizzini’s sangiovese tree, channelling that ferrous site character into a rich, intense style built for the table and the cellar.

The nose is loaded with plums, blackberries, mint, menthol, perfume and liquorice, in line with earlier vintages that show fine spice, ripe plum, strawberry, cloves and nutmeg over a deep brick‑red core. On the palate it is intense and tight, with terrific acidity, nice weight and firm, savoury tannins – archetypal sangiovese in its wild, earthy red and blue fruits, ferrous earth and textured, grainy grip, finishing long, complex and decidedly savoury rather than sweet.

Food‑wise, it is tailor‑made for beef and venison, slow‑cooked lamb, rich ragù or game dishes, where those chewy, herbal tannins and earthy, ferrous notes can soak into hearty sauces and charry proteins. It will also sing with aged hard cheeses and rustic Italian fare, and with that combination of acidity, structure and depth, it is a strong candidate for medium‑ to long‑term cellaring if you enjoy your sangiovese with evolved leather, spice and savoury complexity.