“This rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of love.” – Sting, 1999

Happy Valentine’s Day!

You’ve heard of an Englishman in New York.

But what about a Brit in Tuscany??

As James Suckling says, “yes, that Sting.”

Let’s be honest. Celebrity wines can be, well…mediocre at times.

So, you’re telling me Sting is behind a 97 POINT wine that’s giving serious Masseto, Messorio, Redigaffi, Galatrona vibes?

Yes.

At a mere fraction of what comparable cult Super Tuscans go for?

YES. We went direct to the source to bring this to you. There’s literally ONE “competitor” (if you can call them that) where it’s $165 a bottle. We’re clocking over $100 less! Chefs kiss

But this is no run-of-the-mill, desperate housewives turned sassy winemaker; bulk juice bottled plonk.

Ok, so maybe the 97 points caught your attention, but you’re still not convinced.

Consider the winemaker. Riccardo Cotarella is “one of the most influential wine personalities in the world” per Robert Parker and “one of the best in Italian winemaking” per Wine Spectator. He steers the ship at Il Palagio and proudly declares “the passion and the love for my country that Sting and Trudie are putting into this project guarantees that the quality of the wines will be very, very high.”

Deeply colored as a moonless night, with notes of black truffle, charcoal minerality, blackberry, and cassis, with touches of chocolate, and coffee. This stunningly complex, opulent, full-bodied wine seems to have approached its peak of maturity, where it should easily rest for another decade or more. Pitch perfect, and tall as a skyscraper yet bearing no heaviness, Sacred Love indeed, compelling and captivating.

To quote Sting himself, “A good wine is like a song. It tells a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end – and somewhere along the way, there is a surprise. Admittedly, when Trudie and I fell in love with beautiful Italy many years ago, we knew relatively little about viticulture. But what we did have was a dream. We dreamed of producing a wine of our own that we could proudly present to our family and friends. The fact that we finally got the chance to do just that in Tuscany was a wonderful twist of fate. In 1997, we bought the Il Palagio estate, replanted the vineyards together with Alan York, and did everything we could to realize our vision. When we tasted our first vintage of Sister Moon in 2009, we knew: It was worth the effort. The potential of this place is enormous. In all these years, Il Palagio has become so much more to us than a simple vineyard. It is a place of longing that has become a second home.”

He continues, “Our wine cellar is located directly below my studio, and I often have the feeling that they are two sides of the same coin. It often seems like the music helps the wine develop, while the enticing aromas from the cellar foster creativity. Many of our wines are named after my songs – a testimony to a connection that was simply there, that we didn’t have to create first. When we produced Sister Moon for the first time, the name came naturally. The grapes were initially cultivated using biodynamic methods, where nature plays a major role – including the moon’s phases. And there it was, this magic. Why we named one of our wines Message in a Bottle is somewhat self-explanatory. The most fitting names, however, are those that embody a certain romance: Sacred Love, When We Dance, Roxanne. They all speak of love.”

Wine Advocate sums it all up “this special estate marries musical genius with vinous aspirations.”

Overwhelming LOVE. Get it while you can, for a song. Sorry, couldn’t help it!

97 Points – James Suckling “The newest Merlot from Sting (yes, that Sting), Il Palagio Toscana Sacred Love 2020, is made by Riccardo Cotarella and proves that Valdarno di Sopra, Italy, which also boasts Sette Ponti and Petrolo, is a great region for Merlot. It shows impressive aromas of violets, blackberries, and violets. Then it goes to slate and dark earth. It changes and seduces with every whiff. Full-bodied yet very poised and tight with polished and caressing tannins. Finishes long and delicious. Fantastic first release. So attractive, ready to drink but better in three or four years.”