Vertical tasting is a powerful tool. It is a way to peer into the winery’s past, present, and future.

With travel restricted around the world at the beginning of this year, opportunities to do large vertical tastings don’t come up often. That’s why I was thrilled when Pinino reached out to me to taste their wines.

I met Elena Gamon on Clubhouse. Elena’s family (of Austrian descent) purchased Pinino with Spaniard Max Hernandez in 2003. Located in Montalcino, Pinino farms 16 hectares, mostly dedicated to Sangiovese. The produce Rosso di Montalcino along with three different Brunello di Montalcinos.

Pinino Wines

Brunello di Montalcino is born from high elevation vineyards (sometimes up to 600 meters (almost 2000 feet) and must be aged for at least four years before release (five years for the Brunello di Montalcino Riserva). It’s often recommended to cellar the wines for at least ten years before enjoying them. I’ve found myself enjoying young Brunello lately, especially since the recent releases come from a string of excellent vintages.

“The 2016 and 2015 vintage for Brunello is outstanding, while we are equally excited about 2019,” Elena said.

From tasting the wines, I share her enthusiasm for the three vintages. The 2015 & 2016s from Pinino are brilliant (as well as the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino). They share the same characteristics of other Brunellos I’ve had from these vintages, a brilliant dance between fruit, tannin, and acidity. I suspect that the 2016 might be more long-lived but only time will tell.

I was impressed with every wine in the Pinino portfolio. The best thing about these wines is the value for money. Wine-Searcher shows an average price of 42 USD for the Pinino Brunello di Montalcino and 19 USD for the Rosso di Montalcino. Both are exceedingly fair prices for this prestigious Tuscan appellation. And wile the reserve wines from Pinino are delicious, I highly recommend the standard Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino if you’re looking to get the maximum bang for your buck.

*For those that prefer video, you can check out my thoughts of the Pinino, Bruello di Montalcino 2013, 2015, and 2016 below.

Wine Recommendations:

• Pinino, Rosso di Montalcino 2019

All three of these Rosso di Montalcino’s from Pinino are made from 100% Sangiovese aged for 10 months in wood. It has a gorgeous, bright nose of sour cherry, rose petal, and a touch of licorice and cedar. This is very complex for a wine of this price point. Medium-bodied, this is fruity on the palate. There’s nothing that gets in the way here. There is a slight licorice finish with subtle tannins. This is a wonderful effort at this price point. Score: 90+/100

• Pinino, Rosso di Montalcino 2018

It smells oakier than the other vintages I’m tasting in this set. Notes of wood, cherry, and earth notes with just a touch of mushroom. The wood bothered me a little on the nose but the palate gives way to a wine that is complex with a lot to offer. The red fruit and sweet cedar flavors come together on a full-bodied red with round tannins. Score: 90/100

• Pinino, Rosso di Montalcino 2017

This is already showing some age and there are notes of dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, leather, and earth. The fruit has fallen off some here, it’s still a wonderful wine but for those who want more savory characteristics. It is a fuller-bodied Rosso di Montalcino with chewy tannins. Drink this up now, don’t leave it in the cellar any longer. Score: 89/100

• Pinino, Brunello di Montalcino 2016 

The three standard Brunello di Montalcino wines from Pinino are 100% Sangiovese aged for 30 months in wood. This is still a baby with a lot of life left ahead of it. Notes of sour cherry, licorice, tobacco, and a touch of pepper. The is an elegant wine with class. It’s medium-bodied and blends the right amount of earth, fruit, and peppery notes. The tannins are plentiful but they are ripe and welcome. This should turn out to be a killer wine yet it’s so darn delicious now. Score: 94/100

• Pinino, Brunello di Montalcino 2015

The fruit is a nice blend between fresh sour cherry and dried cherry fruits. There are also notes of sweet cedar, chewing tobacco, and earth. In just a few years, the wine has put on nice weight. It’s round and creamy in the mouth. The tannins come in pretty strong and grip the palate. This has a long life ahead of it. If you’re drinking it now, make sure to pair it with a big piece of meat. Score: 93+/100

• Pinino, Brunello di Montalcino 2013

The savory and leather notes come out first here along with notes of dried cherry, dried red plum, violets, and cigar box. The time in the bottle has added weight to this wine. It’s rich and creamy on the palate. The tannins still come on strong, suggesting this could develop and improve even more. Right now, I love where this is at, just have some meat handy. Score: 94/100

• Pinino, ‘Pinone’ Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012

This ‘Pinone’ Brunello di Montalcio Riserva is 100% Sangiovese aged for 36 months in wood. Notes of dried cherry, dried raspberry, mushroom, bay leaf, and tobacco. Full-bodied and rich, this is layered and full of complexity. There are dried fruit notes with sandy tannins. Despite the development, there is a pretty floral undertone here. This is exactly what I expect from outstanding Brunello di Montalcino. Score: 95/100

• Pinino, ‘Vigna Pinino’ Brunello di Montalcino 2015

This is the first vintage of this wine, only 1000 bottles made. The Pinino, ‘Vigna Pinino’ Brunello di Montalcino is a traditional Tuscan red through and through. Honestly, I was turned off by this at first but with air, it started to sing. Notes of dark chocolate, leather, dried cherry, dried plum, pepper. Medium-bodied and layered. There is a lot of complexity with ripe tannins and a long finish. Score: 93+/100

The wines above were sent as samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Pinino Brunello di Montalcino: A Vertical Tasting appeared first on Wine Travel.

When it comes to my first true wine love, Italy holds my heart.

In normal years, I’m in Italy at least five times per year. Thanks to the worldwide situation, that number went down significantly in 2020 and the first part of 2021 (hopefully that changes in Q3 and Q4). The lack of travel meant that I did most of my tastings at home.

My Italian Wine Story

My love for Italian wine began with my first trip to Europe during a backpacking trip in graduate school. During that summer, my friends and I stopped in the walled city of Lucca (Tuscany). We ordered a liter of house wine made from Sangiovese.

Until then, I had only been drinking cheap, supermarket wines in America. I poured myself a glass of that house wine and just smelled the glass for five minutes straight. My friends looked at me like I was crazy. The aroma of that wine has stuck to me until this day.

As I started to grow up in the wine world and eventually work in it, my love for Italian wine never waivered. In fact, it became stronger. The mind-boggling amount of grape varieties and styles of wine in the country captures the attention of myself and wine lovers the world over. You could dedicate your entire life to Italian wine and still not cover everything the country has to offer.

If you want to learn about Italian wine, get out there and taste as much as you can. With the quality rising throughout the country, now is a better time than ever. Here are the best Italian wines that I tasted in the first half of 2021.

Italian Wine Recommendations:

• Roberto Mazzi, ‘Sanperetto’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2018

A blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Molinara, and Rondinella aged in oak for 12 months. There’s a brilliant nose here of blueberry, red cherry, and subtle hints of earth and dark chocolate. There are not wood flavors but the oak definitely adds to the texture. Medium-bodied and juicy with a subtle earthy finish. This isn’t the most complex wine in the world but this hits my palate just right. It’s very enjoyable and should pair great with a variety of pasta. Score: 91/100

• Roberto Mazzi, ‘Poeiega’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2017

This is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara. It’s made from late-harvested grapes that are laid out to dry for 40 days. Like a baby Amarone, it’s also aged for 24 months in wood. This is a little dusty on the nose at first but it starts to unveil with air. There are notes of black cherry, dark chocolate, forest pine, and a hint of pepper. It’s round and silky on the palate with some rich fruit. An attractive tangerine-like acidity runs through the center of the palate. The tannins offer just a little grip in the cheeks. Delicious on its own or with food. Score: 90/100

• Roberto Mazzi, ‘Castel’ Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015

Single-vineyard Amarone. A blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara dried for 100 days and aged in wood for 36 months. This is a savory, quintessential Amarone with notes of leather, dark chocolate, dried cherry, and tobacco. Full-bodied and rich, this is round and intense on the palate with chewy tannins. The fruit is rich at first but ends up being lighter on its feet thanks to the racey acidity that slices down the palate. It’s big at 16.5% alcohol but you don’t feel the hit and the acidity washes the palate clean. Score: 93/100

• Scarbolo, Refosco 2013

This is Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso made with partially dried grapes and aged in wood. This is a red that smells and tastes a lot younger than its age suggests. Notes of red forest fruit, meat, leather, cigar box, and pepper. It’s full-bodied and round on the palate, the fruit coats the mouth well. This grape can have a problem with too much acidity but that’s kept in check here. Lengthy, tart cherry-like finish. Score: 92/100

• Scarbolo, Mattia (Beyond Pinot) 2016

This is barrel-aged Pinot Grigio. Notes of slate, pineapple, red apple, white peach, white flower. The wood integration here is perfect. The wood never takes over the wine, it just adds structure and a sandy texture. There’s enough acidity here to keep the wine zippy. Long finish. Score: 91/100

• Paitin, ‘Campolive’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2017 

This is 100% Barbera aged in wood. It’s an ambitious red with notes of tobacco, dried cherry, mocha, dried cranberry, and earth – incredibly complex. The palate is loaded with bright red fruit. The tannins are fine and the acidity stretches out the finish. The acidity is high here so it probably would be best with food. It’s got all the goods to age in the cellar too. Top-notch Barbera. Score: 91+/100  

• Paitin, ‘Ca Veja’ Nebbiolo d’Alba 2017

The ‘Ca Veja’ is 100% Nebbiolo. Gorgeous nose of leather, dried rose petal, cranberry, and tobacco. The palate is delicate with a great balance between savory notes of bright red fruits. There are many layers here. The tannins hit hard in the back end like all Nebbiolos. The finish is long and refined. At this price point, stock this up, throw it in the cellar, and watch the magic happen. Score: 91+/100 

• Paitin, ‘Serraboella’ Barbaresco 2017 

This is a generous and fruity Barbaresco. It’s a plush, easy-to-drink Barbaresco. Notes of dried cherry, dried cranberry, mocha, and tar are present here. The front palate is so round and plush, there’s plenty of fruit up front with the typical Nebbiolo complexities on the back end. The tannins here are very soft for a young Barbaresco, making this a crowd-pleaser. Yes, this can age but it’s so darn delicious now. Score: 93/100

• Paitin, ‘Sorì Paitin’ Barbaresco 2017

From a specific plot in the Serraboella vineyard. This is a bit tighter and shyer than the standard Barbaresco from Paitin. It’s more on the earthy side than its sibling. The perfume, rose petal, and tar stands out here with fresh cranberry and sour cherry fruit. It’s more savory and linear on the palate than the standard Serraboella Barbaresco. The tannins are bigger here too. This is a wine to lie down in the cellar and let it mature and develop. It should be a blockbuster with time, be patient. Score: 94/100

• Mauro Sebaste, ‘Trèsüri’ Barolo 2017

I loved the previous vintage of this wine. It’s a blend of three vineyards. The leather and tar stand out here up front along with the mocha, dried cherry, and cranberry notes. There’s plenty of earthiness here along with the fruit, it very much acts like a red Burgundy. The medley of tobacco, red fruit, and earth go together perfectly in the palate before the tannins hit hard. Another beautiful, standard Barolo. Score: 92/100

• Mauro Sebaste, ‘Cerretta’ Barolo 2017

This is a single vineyard Barolo from the Serralunga commune. Impressive nose of earth, leather, red cherry, fresh cranberry, and mocha. This is a rich Barolo. It’s generous upfront with plenty of fruit. It’s all fruit on the front end and all earthiness on the backend. Ripe tannins that add just a touch of grip. Long finish. This has a future ahead of it but is also delicious now. Bravo on another great effort from Mauro Sebaste. Score: 94/100 

• Fattoria della Aiola, Chianti Classico Riserva 2017

Mostly Sangiovese aged for 24 months in oak. This is a deep and rich Chianti Classico with notes of black cherry, sour cherry, soil, and plenty of tobacco. The nose is really complex. The palate is brighter than the nose would suggest. I thought at first it might be too ripe but the plenty of red fruit and gorgeous, tangy acidity grace the palate. The tannins here are a little bigger than the standard Chianti Classico but are in no way too much. This is a structured effort that should do well with time in the bottle. Score: 92/100

• Fattoria della Aiola, ‘Cancello Rosso’ Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017

This is mostly Sangiovese aged in wood for 30 months. There are more notes from the wood in this wine than the previous two but it’s not overdone. Sweet cedar, tobacco, pepper, and earth accompany the sour cherry flavors. The palate is layered and complex but it needs more time in the bottle for the wood to melt in. Ripe tannins and a long finish. I prefer the Chianti Classico Riserva a little more at this point but the Cancello Rosso should prove to be the better wine in the long haul. Score: 92+/100 

• Monterotondo, Vigna Vaggliota Chianti Classico 2017

This is a beautiful wine that is mostly Sangiovese with some Canaiolo and Malvasia Nera. Beautiful notes of sour cherry, baking spice, sweet cedar, and leather. Medium-bodied with plenty of tangy acidity. The red fruit and earth flavors are held together but citrusy acidity. Tannins add just a touch of grip. Score: 91+/100

• Monterotondo, ‘Vigna Seretina’ Chianti Classico Riserva 2016

This is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Malvasia Nera. This is a bigger Chianti Classico with notes of black cherry, mocha, tobacco, and dried spices. Full-bodied and complex. This has a wonderful balance of fruit and earthy notes. The wood is integrated perfectly here, it adds a little bit of seasoning but never masks the wine. Round tannins and a long finish. Score: 93+/100

• Boscarelli, ‘Il Nocio’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This is 100% Sangiovese. Gorgeous nose of sour cherry, crushed flowers, earth, tobacco, and a touch of leather. It’s a medium-bodied red with a lot of nuances. The fruit isn’t the focus here, it’s the layers and complexity. The tannins coat the mouth perfectly, they are grippy but not too drying. Citrusy acidity guides the long finish. This is a real winner from this fabulous producer. Score: 94+/100

• Boscarelli, ‘Costa Grande’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015

100% Sangiovese. Noted of black cherry, chewing tobacco, leather, earth, and a touch of menthol. The nose is a tad shy but the flavors explode on the palate. The wine has a great mix of fruit and savory notes. The concentration of the fruit and flavors is excellent. There are many layers to this wine with mouth-coating tannins. It still can improve with time in the bottle. Long finish. This is all about mouthfeel and the most impressive wine I’ve tasted from Boscarelli. Score: 95/100

• Boscarelli, ‘Sotto Casa’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015

This is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. This is a denser Vino Nobile. There is a core of black cherry, chewing tobacco, cassis, graphite, and a touch of earth. This is full-bodied and very complex. This is plush on the palate with a silky quality to it thanks to the Merlot. Round tannins. Score: 93+/100

• Salcheto, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017 

The Vino Nobile from Salcheto is 100% Sangiovese and it shows a nice touch of wood. The wood shows up the form of sweet cedar along with flavors of sour cherry, red raspberry, and leather. It’s full-bodied red, with roundness from time in the barrel. The acidity here is bright and the tannins are pretty grippy, so make sure to have some meat handy. Long finish. Score: 91/100

• Salcheto, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2016

This Vino Nobile Riserva is 100% Sangiovese aged in wood. Notes of sour cherry, black cherry, graphite, tobacco, and menthol. It’s full-bodied and round on the palate. This is more focused on fruit than the standard Salcheto, Vino Nobile. The wine has big, round tannins with stellar oak integration. This is a crowd-pleaser. Score: 91+/100

• Salcheto, Biskero Chianti 2020

This is mostly Sangiovese with small amounts of Caniaolo, Mammolo, and Merlot. It’s a beautiful, inexpensive red wine with plenty of sour cherry, earth, and pepper flavors. What’s impressive for this wine at this price point is the texture. It doesn’t feel like a thin, cheap red. There’s plenty of fruit with soft tannins and a respectable finish for a wine at this price. Score: 89/100

*This wine is a steal at around 12 USD a bottle.

• Camerani. ‘Corte Sant’Alda’ Soave 2019

A gorgeous, easy-drinking Soave with notes of lemon, white peach, crushed rocks, and a touch of yogurt. This is a lighter white wine but one still with a hint of complexity. The fruit comes out on the nose but it’s the mineral and lemon notes on the end that pulls me in. This is a fabulous white at a good price point. Score: 90/100

• Inama, ‘Carbonare’ Soave Classico 2019

The Carbonanare is a rich Soave made from 100% Garganega. Notes of mineral, banana, white pear, and yogurt notes. It is aged in stainless steel but it has the mouthfeel and richness of a wine that was aged in oak. It doesn’t have the razor-sharp acidity that many Soave have but it does have complexity. It’s round and soft on the palate with a good bite in the mid-palate. Score 91/100

The wines above are samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Italian Wine: Mi Amore appeared first on Wine Travel.

Restoring a historic wine to its rightful place. That’s what Alliance Vinum is aiming for.

When it comes to the great wines of Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico are often the first names that come to mind. While one of the historic regions, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, is often forgotten. It’s unfortunate for a wine that Pope Paul III once dubbed as vino perfectissimo (perfect wine) in the 16th century.

Alliance Vinum: The New Vino Nobile

The Alliance Vinum is made of six producers: Avignonesi, Boscarelli, Dei, La Braccesca (Antinori), Poliziano, and Salcheto. They focus on producing high-quality, site-specific Sangiovese that ranks among the best red wines of Italy. They communicate this through a set of six single-vineyard, Cru wines that are made entirely of Sangiovese. This is unique because the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano regulations allow for 30% of grapes other than Sangiovese to be included in the blend. All six wines are grown in vineyards with a mixture of sand and clay.

Being a Sangiovese superfan, I couldn’t wait to taste these examples from the Alliance Vinum. Generally speaking, I do find a little more excitement in the normale Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino over standard Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. These Cru wines from the Alliance Vinum are something else, they show why Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is poised to rise again.

All six of these wines can stand next to the best in Tuscany. All of them represent a significant step up from the standard bottlings of the respective wineries. Too often, reserve wines around the world just mean more oak, that’s not the case here.

These wines from Alliance Vinum are riper styles of Sangiovese but they never feel jammy on the palate. The prettiness of the grape is preserved in all of these wines. They all offer plenty of structure with that distinctive Tuscan flair that Italian wine lovers like myself crave.

If you’re looking to taste a modern Italian Rennaissance, these wines are worth seeking out.

Wine Recommendations:

Avignonesi, ‘Poggetto di Sopra’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The Avignonesi, ‘Poggetto di Sopra’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016 is a single vineyard, 100% Sangiovese single-vineyard aged for 24 months in cask. The fruit here is pure and is allowed to show through. There are notes of leather, sour cherry, cigar ash, and earth. This strikes a fantastic balance between classic and modern Sangiovese. The wine feels medium-bodied in the mouth at first before the big-time tannins hit at the end. It has a long life ahead of it. If you love Tuscan reds, this is a must-buy. Score: 94+/100

Poliziano, ‘Le Caggiole’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This is 100% Sangiovese. It has a ripe, generous nose of black cherry, tobacco, black raspberry, and sweet cedar. This is a great balanced between massive amounts of fruit with subtle earth notes and Tuscan flair. This is incredibly easy to drink and has a smooth mouthfeel that will make many palates happy. Great interplay between sweet fruit and acidity with round tannins. Tobacco flavors linger on the finish. Score: 93/100 

Cantina Dei, ‘Maddona della Querce’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This is the reserve wine of the estate. When I first tasted it, there was plenty of wood but with air, this really started to shine. Notes of raspberry, tangerine peel, sour cherry, cedar, and pepper. Full-bodied with plenty of fruity and structure. This still has a lot of tannins, so make sure to have some food. Structured with a long finish. Score: 92/100

Salcheto, ‘Vecchie Viti Del Salco’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This is 100% Sangiovese. It’s a beautiful, savory red wine. The leather and tobacco come out first before the fruit, which pulls me into the glass. Notes of dried cherry, rose petal, and cedar are among the other notes here. Full-bodied but not massive, there’s a lot of complexity here. There’s a spine of blood orange acidity that lifts the flavors of the palate. Round and supple tannins guide the long finish. Score: 94/100

Boscarelli, ‘Costa Grande’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016 

This is 100% Sangiovese. There’s a great interplay of fruit and savory notes here. Plenty of sour cherry fruit is accompanied by well-worn leather, menthol, and sweet cedar. This is a full-bodied red that checks all the boxes for me. Complex? Yes. Fruity but not jammy? Yes. The tannins are ripe and add just a gentle grip. Juicy acidity guides the long finish. Score: 95/100

La Braccesca, ‘Maggiarino’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This is 100% Sangiovese. It’s a riper take on this variety. Notes of red plum, cherry, cedar, leather, and a touch of rose petal. IT would be hard for me to call this Sangiovese in a blind tasting. This is made to be a crowd-pleaser. It’s full-bodied and silky with plenty of fruit up front. The tannins come and hit hard on the back end. Score: 92+/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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The Alliance Vinum provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Alliance Vinum: Taking Vino Nobile di Montepulciano To The Next Level appeared first on Wine Travel.

A noble wine waiting in the wings.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of the historic Tuscan wines. The first mention of the wines dates back to the 8th century and in the 16th century, Pope Paul III declared the wines of Montepulciano to be vino perfectissimo (perfect wine). In recent times, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has lost ground in the mind of the consumer to nearby appellations of Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico.

The Vino Nobile Style?

It’s no secret that I love Sangiovese, it’s the grape that sucked me into the world of wine. No matter how my palate has evolved throughout the years, my passion for Sangiovese has never waned. This carries over to Montepulciano.

Surrounding the village of Montepulciano, the region of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano was one of the first regions to receive the title of DOC in the 1960s. It was promoted to the prestigious DOCG status in 1980, the same time as its neighbors Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino. Despite the history, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Vino Nobile for short) doesn’t carry the caché of the former.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a Sangiovese-based red and grapes such as Canniaolo, Colorino, Mammolo, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are permitted in the blend. The style of Vino Nobile has been described in between Brunello and Chianti Classico. To me, this is a bit of a generalization as Vino Nobile styles can vary tremendously based on the producer.

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Vino Nobile di Montepulciano at a Glance

• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is predominantly a Sangiovese-based wine in Tuscany. It’s not the same has Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
• The vineyards must be at 250-600 meters (820-1970 feet) in elevation.
• There are approximately 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres) eligble to become Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG.
• The local clone of Sangiovese is called Prugnolo Gentile and they must constitute at least 70% of the blend to be named Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. 
• The Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, counts 230 farmers and 76 estate producers.

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The appellation provides the wine enthusiast with a range of choices. The wines of Vino Nobile run the gamut from fruit-driven to savory, medium-bodied & structured to full & fleshy. You can also find wines that are modern to rustic and everything in between. Is this be the downfall of Vino Nobile or a blessing?

With many ‘cookie cutter’ styles in the wine world, I find this to be refreshing. I’ve had Vino Nobiles that act very much like Brunello to those that more closely resemble Old World Pinot Noir. My hope is that producers continue to work on producing delicate Sangiovese that focuses on the sweet, sour, and savory components that make the grape so food-friendly. This can be done regardless of style.

The Future of Vino Nobile

What’s the future of Montepulciano? It seems that I’m not the only one who is bullish. Antonio Galloni of Vinous said it best, “If I had to bet on one region in Italy that really has the potential to explode onto the global stage the way Brunello, Barolo, Barbaresco, and Chianti Classico have, it would no doubt be Montepulciano.”

From my tastings over the last few months, it’s hard to argue with Antonio. Here’s a look at six different Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines from the fantastic 2016 vintage.

Wine Recommendations

• Fattoria del Cerro , Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The Fattoria del Cerro is made from almost entirely Sangiovese. A gorgeous Tuscan nose of sweet & sour cherry, cedarwood, and smoke. This is juicy, delicious red wine. It’s not a massive red like the 14% abv would suggest, it’s one with more restraint. There is a generous amount of acidity here which allows for the tart red fruit to show through on the palate. Plenty of Italian nuances here. Open this up during a weekday evening with pizza or lasagne. Score: 89/100

• Tenuta Vallocaia – Bindella, ‘I Quadri’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

Tenuta Vallocaia – Bindella, ‘I Quadri’ is 100% Sangiovese. Out of the glass, it’s bright with rose petal, sour cherry, tobacco, and cedar notes. This hits my palate perfectly. It’s mostly tart red fruit upfront with the subtle earthy and tobacco notes coming in at the end. The juicy acidity keeps the wine light on its feet at first before the chewy tannins come on in the end. Long finish. This wine is built to last in the cellar. Score: 91+/100

• Tiberini, ‘Podere le Caggiole’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The Tiberini, ‘Podere le Caggiole; is a single-vineyard wine made from Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Mammolo. This is a bigger Vino Nobile with notes of sour cherry, sour plum, violets, and chew tobacco. The wood comes on strong here but it’s a nice compliment to the other flavors. Full-bodied and round on the palate, it’s plush and on the fruity side. It feels so round and silky on the palate before the chewy tannins come in hard. This can last in the cellar. Score: 92/100

• Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta is mostly Sangiovese with some Canaiolo and Merlot. This is a savory, Old World red wine. Notes of leather, sour cherry, sweet cedar, and damp earth. This is a balanced, Old World red wine. There’s so much going on here, yet everything is put into place. It’s round on the palate and has a touch of rustic quality to it. The bright acidity stretches the finish. Balance is the keyword here. Score: 92+/100

• Carpineto, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2016

The Carpineto, Riserva is mostly Sangiovese with some Canaiolo in it. This is rich and ripe, almost Brunello in style. Notes of black cherry, sandalwood, smoked meat, and a touch of violets. It’s full in body, the biggest wine out of this set. The wood is integrated really well here. The wine is round and plush before the supple tannins add some grip on the backend. Serve this with grilled meat. Score: 90/100

• Valdipiatta, ‘Vigna d’Alfiero’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The Valdipiatta, ‘Vigna d’Alfiero’ is 100% Sangiovese and only made in the best vintages. Notes of red cherry, tobacco, leather, pepper, and earth. It’s round and plush on the palate. I thought that it might be very fruity by the nose, but the fruit is restrained and held back a little. This is a red with savory nuances. Ripe tannins and a long, leathery finish. Score: 91/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Thanks to the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano for providing tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Taste of Tuscany: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appeared first on Wine Travel.

Sangiovese is where our palates meet, more specifically Chianti Classico.

Charine and I don’t always agree on wines except for fine Sangiovese from the heart of Tuscany. Riecine is no stranger to producing great examples. The oldest records know Riecine as belonging to a monastery but it wasn’t until the late Briton John Dunkley purchased the property in 1971.

The wines gained critical acclaim and have passed through the hands of several owners since Dunkley’s passing. Since 2011, Riecine is family-owned by Lana Frank and managed by winemaker Alessandro Campatelli. He continues to put the estate’s focus on Sangiovese.

“I want to make wine as it should be in Chianti Classico, not how markets see it. In the past years, I started learning how to use concrete with Sangiovese, respecting the grapes and not over oxidizing the wines,” Alessandro says.

We met Alessandro at James Suckling’s Great Wines of Italy Hong Kong and were immediately impressed with the wines. A few months after the meeting, we found ourselves at the Riecine estate in Gaiole in Chianti. The only way to the estate is a single track, dirt road which gives way to fantastic views.

Riecine’s vineyards are high elevation, in the heart of Chianti Classico. They range from 430 to 600 meters (1400 – 1970 feet) above sea level. Standing in vineyards and looking down into the small villages of Vinci and Barbischio gave us a new understanding of Chianti Classico. The cool air and steep hills give an alpine feel. It’s the fresh air and cool nights that help the wines retain their tangy acidity.

Riecine Latest Sangiovese Releases

The latest set of Sangiovese based wines from Riecine span the 2016, 2017, and 2018 vintages. The 2016 vintage is regarded as one of the greatest vintages in recent Tuscan history. All of the wines show the Riecine house style, vibrant red fruit flavors with smooth mid palates and juicy acidity. Riecine has quickly become one of our favorite Tuscan wineries and we look forward to following their progress.

Alessandro doesn’t appear to rest on Riecine’s laurels. “In the future, I see Riecine at the top of the pyramid in winemaking. We are in a fantastic area, selected by monks centuries ago for their cultivations. The secret is not to be influenced by the market,” he says.

After tasting the latest vintages, it looks as if they are on the right path.

Wine Recommendations:

• Riecine, Palmina Rosé 2019

The Riecine, Palmina Rosé is 100% Sangiovese aged four months in concrete. Made from grapes grown specifically for rosé. Salmon in color with notes of watermelon jolly rancher, strawberry, and a touch of green apple. Dry rosé with an orange peel-like finish and citrusy acidity. Crisp and easy to drink. Score: 88/100

• Riecine, Chianti Classico 2018

The Riecine, Chianti Classico is bright, easy to drink, and tons of fun. It has notes of sour cherry, forest floor, cedar, and mineral. Very good Chianti Classico with both sweet and sour red fruit. A tight backbone of acidity stretches the tangy finish. This should age very well in the cellar. Multiple layers of texture and pure pleasure to drink. I could drink this all day, every day. This is a wine to buy by the case (or two, or three). Score: 91/100

• Riecine, Chianti Classico Riserva 2017

The Riecine, Chianti Classico Riserva is darker and denser than the standard Chianti Classico. Notes of mocha, tobacco, violets, and black cherry emerges from the glass. Full-bodied and rich with chewy tannins. This is a wine to lie down in the cellar as the tannins need to soften. The tangy, tangerine peel-like spine of acidity stretches the finish. Score: 92+/100

• Riecine, ‘Riecine’ Toscana Rosso 2016

The Riecine, ‘Riecine’ Toscana Rosso is 100% Sangiovese that saw no oak. It was aged in concrete eggs for 36 months. Very earthy nose with fall leaves, mud, sour cherry, and white pepper. Lots of finesse on the mid-palate. This is a Sangiovese that dances on your tongue. Tangy acidity with a low level of tannins. Think of it as a Sangiovese made in the aspirations of a fine red Burgundy. Score: 92+/100

• Riecine, La Gioia 2016

The Riecine, ‘La Gioia’ translates to “the joy”. It’s a dark, full-bodied Sangiovese that is ripe but yet feels graceful. Notes of sour cherry, black raspberry, mahogany, tobacco, and mocha. This wine has the perfect amount of full body and chewiness without feeling jammy or flabby. Many layers of texture with a spine of tangerine acidity. Showing good length, this is rich Sangiovese as it should be. A lot of concentration and body for only 13.5 % ABV. It’s noticeably richer than previous vintages we’ve tasted. In past vintages, we preferred the Riecine Toscana Rosso more than the La Gioaia, but that preference has flipped with the 2016s. Score: 94/100

Riecine New Vintage Update: 30 March 2021

• Riecine, Chianti Classico 2019

Another delicious vintage of the Riecine, Chianti Classico. It is 100% Sangiovese aged for 14 months in wood. There are notes of wild strawberry, earth, rhubarb, and even a touch of pepper. The wine is shy on the nose but the palate brings plenty of acidity and electricity. This wine has a perfect balance of being modern and easy to accept along with maintaining the beauty that is Chianti Classico. Chewy tannins and a long finish. This may be young but it’s loads of fun now. Score: 91/100

• Riecine, Chianti Classico Riserva 2018

The Riecine, Chianti Classico Riserva is 100% Sangiovese aged for 24 months in big cask. It’s bigger than the standard Chianti Classico with notes of cherry, dark chocolate, forest floor, and hints of white pepper. Full-bodied and suave on the palate, this is flat-out delicious. It’s got the right balance of fruit and earthy tones combined with vibrant acidity. The tannins are pretty substantial here, so make sure to have some meat nearby long. With a long finish and flawless oak integration, I prefer this to the 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva. Score: 93+/100

• Riecine, ‘Riecine’ Toscana Rosso 2017

The Riecine Toscana Rosso is Sangiovese that was aged for 36 months in concrete eggs and then another six months in bottle. This is my favorite vintage of this wine with notes of sour cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, and damp forest. This is top-notch Sangiovese, it’s pure and allows the fruit to really shine. There’s plenty of tart red fruit notes upfront and generous acidity that stretches the finish. Thanks to this acidity, there’s an electricity to this wine that I usually associate with Riesling. It’s a brilliant wine made in a Burgundy style. Score: 94+/100

• Riecine, La Gioia 2017

The Riecine, La Gioia is Sangiovese aged for 30 months in wood. Notes of cherry, dried cranberry, tobacco, and a touch of sweet cedar. Luscious on the palate with plenty of fruit. Everything is in perfect balance here for a full-bodied Sangiovese. The tannins here are the highlight, for a young wine they are round and ready to be drunk now. The acidity here is sufficient but it’s kept in check compared to the other Riecine offerings. Long finish. Score: 94/100 

• Riecine, ‘TreSette 777’ Merlot 2017

The Riecine, ‘TreSette 777’ is 100% Merlot aged in large casks for 20 months. This is the second vintage of this Merlot that’s generated a lot of buzz in recent years. It’s more on the red fruit spectrum with fruity notes of cherry and red plum. There’s plenty of tobacco flavors here and just a hint of pencil shavings mixed in with mud. Full-bodied and silky on the palate, there’s plenty to like here. The tannins are grippy without being drying and the acidity is juicy. Long finish. I don’t know if this will last a long time in the cellar but it doesn’t matter, it’s so darn delicious now. Score: 93/100

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Thanks to Riecine for providing a set of samples for us to taste. Cover photo is from the Riecine website. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Riecine Looking Forward: Tuscan Sangiovese Lineup appeared first on Wine Travel.

“What’s it like to work with such a big personality in the wine world?”

“She’s actually fantastic and listens to input and gives some flexibility in the cellar,” answered Ettore Rizzi. He’s a fiery ambitious man who is deeply involved with the production at Fattoria le Pupille. Ettore also happens to be the son of Elisabetta Geppetti.

Elisabetta is often credited for putting the DOCG Morellino di Scansano on the map. Her estate, Fattoria le Pupille produces around 500,000 bottles of wine in Southern Tuscany from 75 hectares of vineyards. Their range spans from a value-driven Morellino di Scansano all the way to their ambitious Super Tuscan known as ‘Saffredi’.

Her son Ettore is now working in the cellar and is crucial in the final blending and overall production.

Fattoria le Pupille

The first time I came across Fattoria le Pupille was during a small, intimate trade tasting in Belgrade, Serbia. Elisabetta Geppetti walked me through several of her wines including her staple Morellino di Scansano Riserva and classy Poggio Valente. The wines smelled of Tuscany and really spoke to me.

Fast forward a few years later and I found myself on a casual Zoom tasting with wine lovers and sommeliers from around the world. It just so happened that Ettore Rizzi was on the call too. I immediately appreciated his passion, understanding, and curiosity towards wine. After several calls, Ettore chose to send me the current releases from the estate.

Tasting through the latest vintages of Fattoria le Pupille was one good thing that came out of the dreaded year of 2020. The entry-level Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano offers tremendous value for money while the reserve wines can compete with the best of Tuscany. The biggest surprise for me is the new Poggio Argentato, a wine that breaks the stereotype that all Tuscan whites are boring.

Here’s a look at the latest vintages from Fattoria le Pupille.

• Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Argentato 2019

The Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Argentato is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Traminer, and Sémillon. Most of the wine is kept in stainless steel while part of the cuvée is aged in oak. Notes of white pear, honey, white peach, yogurt, and a touch of white flower. This is a white that is full of flavor and is fun to drink. The Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t dominate in the blend, which is a good thing. Score: 91/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano 2019

The Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Alicante Bouchet and Ciliegiolo. This is the backbone of the estate. This is a fun red with notes of sour cherry, strawberry, mineral, and a touch of tangerine-peel. It’s not just a boring, simple red – it has earthiness and complexity. The sour cherry notes dominate, which I love. There are some chewy tannins here along with the juicy acidity. For an inexpensive red, this could improve with some time in the bottle. Pick this up by the case! Score: 89/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano Riserva 2017

The Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano Riserva is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon aged in large cask for 15 months. This just screams Tuscany in the glass. Brilliant nose of sour cherry, cedar, tobacco, earthy, and even a touch of capsicum. There is so much sweet and sour cherry fruit on the front palate that it engulfs your palate. Earth and tobacco nuances come around on the end and there’s a tangerine-peel acidity on the long finish. Tannins are chewy and this can be enjoyed right away but it should keep in the cellar in the medium term. Very good, warmer climate Sangiovese. Score: 93/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Valente 2018

The Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Valente is 100% Sangiovese aged for 18 months in large casks. Very impressive Sangiovese from Maremma. Notes of dried cherry, raspberry, blueberry mint, and tobacco. Ripe and chewy on the palate, there is plenty of fruit here and it’s sweet red fruits. It’s a wine with plenty of structure, great oak integration, and just a touch of wildness. A ripe, concentrated, and structured Sangiovese with length and a spicy finish. This is a great Sangiovese that can stack up to the best of Brunello, Nobile, and Chianti Classico. Score: 94+/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Saffredi 2018

The Fattoria le Pupille, Saffredi is an Italian icon and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It’s not big and rich, it’s got ripeness with some finesse. Notes of black cherry, black plum, hazelnut, sweet cedar, and a touch of earth. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins. This is a baby now but should age into something spectacular. Fine-grained tannins.

This is just starting to hit the shelves now. If you pick it up, plan on cellaring it for another five to ten years. At that point, it should blossom and deserve a high uptick in the score. Score: 94/100

Fattoria le Pupille provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Fattoria le Pupille: More Than Morellino appeared first on Wine Travel.

“Stella Flora is named after my grandmother, a strong but sweet woman who worked in the vineyard until she was 89,” Maria Pia Castelli tells me.

In normal years, I’d be having this conversation in person, preferably in the vineyard or cellar. This year is far from normal, so our conversation is over Facebook. I tell Maria that her red, Erasmo Castelli, is corked. “You know what Matthew? I’m going to send you another bottle,” she types in the chat window. “Erasmo Castelli is the name of my grandfather, that wine means a lot to me.”

The winemaking bug big Maria Pia Castelli and her husband Enrico, during a road trip through Burgundy and Piedmont. Following that trip, they launched their own winery in 1999 with the help of her father Erasmo, a long-time wine grower. Maria Pia farms 8 hectares (20 acres) of vineyards in Marche (Italy) with her husband and her son.

Maria Pia Castelli presents her wines at RAW Wine in London. Like most natural producers, she eschews pesticides and herbicides and is precise with her pruning. But for me, there’s something more than that. These are wines with real soul, a twinkle in the eye. “The secret is low yields, skill, patience, and hard work,” Maria Pia Castelli says.

I might add passion to that equation.

• Maria Pia Castelli, Stella Flora 2016

The Maria Pia Castelli, Stella Flora is a 25-day, macerated white wine blend of Pecorino, Passerina, Trebbiano and Malvasia di Candia. It’s also aged in oak. Notes of flint, white peach, honey, smoke, and mandarin oranges. This has a perfect balance between fruit and mineral notes. Intense, powerful, and long. The fruit coats the palate before the tannins start to grip and the prickly acidity comes in. This is an outstanding orange wine. Score: 93+/100

• Maria Pia Castelli, Sant’ Isidoro 2018

The Maria Pia Castelli, Sant’ Isidoro saignée rosé that is made from Montepulciano and Sangiovese. It is a rosato that feels like a light red. Beautiful notes of strawberry, forest raspberry, earth, and meadow flowers emerge from the glass. The sweetness of the fruit makes this feel off-dry, although Maria Pia Castelli claims this is bone dry. It’s not a poolside rosé, this is something with complexity and bite. There is even a slight amount of tannin here but it’s not drying. Score: 89/100

• Maria Pia Castelli, Lorano 2016

The Maria Pia Castell, Lorano is pure Sangiovese aged in wood for 12 months. It smells like a bigger, denser take on the grape, almost like it’s an expensive Super Tuscan blend. There are notes of cherry, red plum, dried strawberry, earth, and leather. The palate has the red fruits upfront coupled with a savory element. The acidity here is bright and lively and the tannins are chewy. It’s a stripped-down, hands-off, truly Old World type of red. Score: 93/100

• Maria Pia Castelli, Erasmo Castelli 2015

This is a big red made from Montepulciano. It’s aged for a whopping 30 months in the barrel. Don’t think of simple Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, this a full, structured red. Dark in color with notes of black cherry, mocha, leather, black pepper. This is a rich, full red without going over the top. Silky mouthfeel upfront with a tangerine peel-like, minerally acidity. Big ripe tannins. This has the fruit and the structure to go further in the bottle. I haven’t enjoyed such a massive red such as this in a long time. Score: 94/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Maria Pia Castelli provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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How many times must I proclaim my love for Sangiovese?

The grape is undoubtedly best in its home of Tuscany. There are many appellations that are dedicated to Sangiovese including the famous Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino. Sandwiched in between both of these is the DOCG of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano or simply Vino Nobile for short.

Vino Nobile has a long history of being a great wine but its popularity has waned, especially with the rise of the neighboring DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino. Nonetheless, this is still a great area for Sangiovese. While the appellation rules of Vino Nobile allow for a small proportion of local grapes like Colorino and Canaiolo in addition to international grapes like Merlot, some producers stand by pure Sangiovese.

Avignonesi is one of those producers. They are one of the region’s stars and prefer to use only Sangiovese in their Vino Nobile bottlings. They farm their 175 hectares of vineyards biodynamically. Avignonesi claims that they are the largest biodynamic producer in Italy.

Owners Virginie Saverys and Max de Zarobe acquired the estate in 2009, when Virginie bought the majority of shares from the Falvo family. They are both dedicated to putting Vino Nobile back on the map. “In 2009, We went from consumers to producers overnight,” Max says. “We made wine that we wanted to drink regardless of the market.” 

Avignonesi: Two Great Vintages

It’s been many years since I tasted the wines from Avigonesi, so I was excited to jump in. “Bear in mind all our Nobile are 100% Sangiovese,” Max said to me via email. “I’d be curious to hear how they compare to Brunello according to your experience.”

I tasted through the 2015s and 2016s, both great vintages in Tuscany. The latter fits my palate more. In 2016, it seems the wines have more harmony, brighter acidity, and the type of tannins that grip but don’t build too much. The 2015s are still delicious although I think 2016 will be the longer-lived vintage.

While I don’t find them to be exactly like Brunello di Montalcino, but that’s a good thing. Vino Nobile is a fantastic wine in its own right. They are great with food or on their own, are age-worthy, and can be had at friendlier prices than Brunello. Vino Nobile offers a taste of Tuscany without breaking the bank.

Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015 

The Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015 is 100% Sangiovese with true, lighter color. It is quintessential Sangiovese with notes of sour cherry, fall leaves, and cedar. A juicy, medium-bodied red with subtly firm tannins. Gets a slight uptick in score because this is the style I love. Score: 90+/100

Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016 is 100% Sangiovese. Notes of cherry, raspberry, caramel, and a touch of mocha. While the nose leads me to think it’s a more modern take, the palate still brings me back to classic Tuscan wine. A medium-bodied red with plenty of acidity and chewy tannins. This will be more long-lived than the 2015 and is a very pretty wine. Score: 91/100

Avignonesi, ‘Poggetto di Sopra’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015

The Avignonesi, ‘Poggetto di Sopra’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015 is a single-vineyard, 100% Sangiovese aged for 24 months in cask. This is a rich, structured red. There’s plenty of oak here at first but that dissipates with air. Notes of kirsch, sour cherry, leather, mahogany, and pepper. A bigger, more flavorful style of Sangiovese, it’s the most similar to Brunello in this set of wines. Score: 92/100

Avignonesi, ‘Poggetto di Sopra’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The Avignonesi, ‘Poggetto di Sopra’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016 is a single vineyard, 100% Sangiovese single-vineyard aged for 24 months in cask. This shows a lot less wood than the 2015. The fruit here is pure and is allowed to show through. There are notes of leather, sour cherry, cigar ash, and earth. This strikes a fantastic balance between classic and modern Sangiovese. The wine feels medium-bodied in the mouth at first before the big-time tannins hit at the end. It has a long life ahead of it. If you love Tuscan reds, this is a must buy. Score: 94+/100

Avignonesi, Grifi 2015

The Avingonesi, Grifi 2015 is half Cabernet Sauvignon and half Sangiovese. It’s Avignonesi’s Super Tuscan with notes of leather, sour cherry, red plum, and tobacco. This is a rich, chewy red that is undeniably Central ITalian. Plenty of concentration here with chewy tannins and a long finish. Brilliant effort and with braised meats this really shines. Score: 93/100

Avignonesi, Grifi 2016

The Avignonesi, Grifi 2016 is approximately half Cabernet Sauvignon and half Sangiovese. This dark Tuscan blend is smoky and savory. Notes of leather, black cherry, capsicum, and tobacco leaf show through on the nose. Full-bodied and plush on the palate, the savory nuances show over the fruit. If tasted blind, I might think this is pure Bordeaux on first smell and taste until the tangerine peel-like acidity comes through on the back end. Chewy tannins and a long finish. This is built to last in the cellar, put it away for another five to ten years. I like the 2015 a little more now but this vintage should prove to be the better wine in the end. Score: 93+/100

Avignonesi, ‘La Banditella’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015

This is 100% Sangiovese aged in big cask and barriques. This is a gorgeous Tuscan red with notes of sour cherry, pepper, tobacco, leather, cedar, and pepper. This is a round, complex, and explosive offering from Avignonesi. There’s loads of fruit here with plenty of earth and tobacco notes. The Sangiovese comes through here, there’s an impressive richness, almost Brunello-like body. Fantastic tannins and a long finish. Score: 94/100

Avignonesi, ‘Caprile’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015

This is 100% Sangiovese aged in large casks and barriques. This is a little more shy than the La Banditella. Notes of dried cherry, sour plum, tobacco, leather, and a touch of tangerine-peel. This is more savory on the nose but the palate explodes with plenty of bright fruit. There’s a nice spine of acidity running through the palate here. The tannins are refreshing here, they add some texture in the mouth but don’t dry out the palate. Long finish. Score: 93+/100

Avignonesi, ‘La Banditella’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This shows more freshness than the 2015. It’s 100% Sangiovese aged in both large casks and barriques. Notes of rose petal, sour cherry, mineral, cedar, and white pepper emerge from the glass. The fruit and the complexity come together nicely here. This is brilliant Sangiovese. The acidity and tannins here are close to perfect. Long finish. Score: 94+/100

Avignonesi, ‘Oceano’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This is 100% Sangiovese aged in large casks and barriques. Of all these single-vineyard wines, this has more stemminess and forest floor to it. There are also notes of red raspberry, white pepper, sandalwood, and leather. It has a lot of flavors similar to a red Burgundy, except the textbook tangerine peel-like acidity of Sangiovese comes through here. Rich texture and a long finish. I’d love to throw this is a blind tasting. Score: 94/100

Avignonesi, ‘El Grasso’ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

This is 100% Sangiovese aged in large casks and barriques. It’s got the brightest, polished fruit out of all the wines. Notes of cherry, red raspberry, tobacco, red licorice, and black pepper. This wine is all about balance with a perfect harmony of fruit and earth. It’s a subtle Sangiovese that builds power as it goes down the palate. Perfect tannins and a long finish. Everything works here, the fruit, tanginess, and astringency. Just an absolutely gorgeous Tuscan red. Score: 94+/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Avignonesi provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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I love Sangiovese, period…

It doesn’t matter if the wine stands on its own or if it’s a part of a blend. From the gorgeous Chianti Classicos that are blended with other local grapes or French grapes to the powerful, pure examples from Montalcino, it’s a grape that my palate never gets sick of. But if there is one blend that I prefer, it may be Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Capezzana, Villa di Capezzana & Trefiano

Many of the famous Super Tuscans were born in the 1970s. During those times, producers had to eschew the Italian DOC system and label their wines as Vino da Tavola (table wines). This was because most appellations in Tuscany did not allow for the inclusion of French grapes – except Carmignano. This lesser-known DOCG not only allows but requires Cabernet Sauvignon as part of the blend.

Cabernet Sauvignon was reportedly planted in Carmignano as early as the 1700s. This little appellation was awarded DOC status in 1975 and then elevated to the prestigious DOCG status in 1990. It is the first appellation in Tuscany to allow the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate that spearheaded the formation of the appellation is the historic Tenuta di Capezzana.

Documents suggest that vines and olives were cultivated on the estate as early as 1200. However, the estate was passed to the Contini Bonacossi family in 1920. The property is still held by the family. The flagship wines of Capezzana are the ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano and the ‘Trefiano’ Carmignano Riserva. Both wines contain 80% Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon – 20% for the Villa di Capezzana and 10% for the Trefiano.

These are classy Italian wines that scream Tuscan red. They are dry reds with sweet, sour, and savory nuances all at once. Thanks to the great vintage of 2016, both should do well in the cellar. The ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano is one of the great values in Tuscany. It’s a wine with history, pedigree, and class. Here’s a look at the newest releases of Capezzana Carmignano.

Capezzana, ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano 2016

The Capezzana, ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano is the flagship wine of the estate. It is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in oak for 12-16 months. Beautiful nose of sour cherry, spearmint, tobacco, and earth. On the palate, it has a nice mid-weight feel to it. Don’t expect all fruit, this is a wine with earthy tones and contours. The Cabernet Sauvignon offers a lot of tannins, which means this is built to age. If you want to enjoy it now, make sure to pair with mouth-coating food.

At 25-29 USD around the world, the Capezzana, Villa di Capezzana offers screaming value and a wine that can last in the cellar. Score: 91/100

Capezzana, ‘Trefiano’ Carmignano Riserva 2016

The Capezzana, ‘Trefiano’ Carmignano Riserva is a blend of 80% Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Canaiolo aged in French oak for 16 months. This has a much bigger and riper feel than the Villa di Capezzana. Notes of black cherry, mint, cedar, earth, and pepper emerge from the glass. It’s a full-bodied Tuscan red that doesn’t go over the top. There are plenty of chewing tobacco notes on the palate, I assume from the Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are big, ripe, and offer plenty of grip but are never too astringent. This is delicious now but will get markedly better with time in the bottle. Score: 94/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Capezzana provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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It’s no surprise that we love Italian wine, from all parts of the country. In recent years, I’ve traveled to some lesser-known parts of Italian wine country including Valle d’Aosta, Puglia, and Sardegna. However, outside of Montefalco Sagrantino, Umbria still remains a blind spot on my radar.

When Torre Bisenzio reached out to me, I jumped at the opportunity to taste their wines. This small estate is located on the northern reaches of Umbria, right on the border with Tuscany. The estate is home to beef cattle, vegetables, and olives. Torre Bisenzio is certified organic. The focus of this hilltop estate is agrotourism and have recently put a strong focus on wine quality.

This set of wines were a pleasant surprise. They aren’t big, rich blockbusters. Rather, they are wines with finesse and a high degree of drinkability all while retaining the character of Central Italian reds. In short, these are the types of wines that I want to sip with a good meal on a daily basis.

Once the time of COVID ends, I hope to visit the estate, sit on the balcony, and sip on some of these while taking in the Umbrian sun.

• Torre Bisenzio, Il Pugnalone 2016

The Torre Bisenzio, Il Pugnalone is half Sangiovese with the other half being Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah aged in used wood. Lighter in color and coming in at a nice 13.5% ABV. There are pleasant notes of cherry, cedar, tobacco, some earthy tones, and even a touch of graphite. It’s very much a Central Italian wine. The wine has enough fruit but isn’t big and brooding. There are firm espresso-like tannins that beg for food. This wine isn’t a blockbuster but it is a delicious, red fruit-driven red that should excel with food. It’s also the style of wine that I like to drink. Score: 89/100

• Torre Bisenzio, Sangiovese 2015

One sniff of the Torre Bisenzio, Sangiovese takes me to Central Italy. This is pure Sangiovese aged for one year in a large cask. Brick red in color with some browning edges, this has a classic nose with notes of sour cherry, red raspberry, menthol, earth, and tobacco. It’s a very pretty, medium-weighted wine. There’s loads of fruit upfront with a slight austerity on the backend. Tannins are chewy and just beg for pasta and braised meats. Drink this up now. Score: 90/100

• Torre Bisenzio, ‘Ambris’ Sauvignon Blanc 2019

The Torre Bisenzio, ‘Ambris’ is Sauvignon Blanc fermented in 375L amphora (six months of skin contact), stainless steel, and barrel. The blend is 1/3 across. This has the nose of a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, not an orange wine. Notes of grapefruit, kiwi, grass, crushed rock, and a streak of basil. Flavorful on the palate, the fruit is mouth coating and there’s a fine balance between fruit, herbs, and spices. Starfruit-like acidity on the finish and fantastic barrel integration.

This wine also has that ‘it’ factor that kept me returning for glass after glass. Score: 92+/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Torre Bisenzio provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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