Il Borro 'Occhio di Pernice' Vinsanto

Il Borro 'Occhio di Pernice' Vinsanto is made entirely from Sangiovese, a rare expression of Tuscany's traditional Vin Santo using only red grapes instead of the conventional white varieties. The name 'Occhio di Pernice'—partridge eye—describes the wine's amber-gold hue and signals a Vinsanto style deeply rooted in Tuscan culture, produced at the Il Borro estate following centuries-old appassimento methods. This bottling represents one of the few pure Sangiovese dessert wines available in Lincoln Park. Il Borro sits in Valdarno di Sopra in eastern Tuscany, where the Ferragamo family has restored both estate and winemaking tradition. To produce this Vin Santo, late-harvest Sangiovese grapes are dried on straw mats or hanging racks for several months, concentrating sugars and intensifying aromatics through controlled dehydration. The raisined fruit is pressed and aged in small caratelli barrels sealed in the estate's vinsantaia, where Tuscan temperature swings over multiple years slowly oxidize and amber the wine. The process yields fewer than a thousand bottles annually and demands patience—some vintages rest six years before release. The wine pours a vivid amber with golden reflections. On the nose, dehydrated apricot and sultana raisin lead, followed by dates, toasted hazelnut, caramel, and almond. The palate is sweet but structured—acidity cuts through the richness and carries flavors of walnut hull, wildflower honey, and barley candy through a long finish. Pour it alongside almond biscotti for the classic Tuscan pairing, or serve with aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, blue cheese, and walnut bread after dinner. The wine's balance makes it approachable on its own as a meditation pour. Il Borro 'Occhio di Pernice' Vinsanto is available now at Off Premise in Lincoln Park for pickup at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.