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.

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.

The post Avignonesi: A Vintage Comparison of Vino Nobile appeared first on Wine Travel.

Some grapes just speak to you. For me, that grape is Sangiovese.

I love it in all forms, especially in its spiritual home of Tuscany. This ‘blood of Jupiter’ (where the name Sangiovese originates from) creates the great wines of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and is included in many famous Super Tuscans. It also forms the backbone of a few great appellations that aren’t as well known. One of those areas surrounds the town of Montepulciano.

Il Conventino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is historically a great Tuscan wine. In modern history, it’s fallen into the shadow of nearby Brunello di Montalcino. Montepulciano is only 36 kilometers east of Montalcino but their reputation is worlds apart. It’s a shame because there are several Vino Nobiles that are worthy of great fame.

Earlier this year, we revisited one of our favorite producers in Croatia, Clai Winery. After a long evening of ‘tasting’, winemaker Dimitri Brečević raided the cellar of proprietor Giorgio Clai for several bottles. “This is one of Giorgio’s friends,” Dimitri explained as we opened the Il Conventino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2012.

My head was a little foggy from the long evening but when a wine is great, it holds onto you and doesn’t let go. The bottle of that Il Conventino, Vino Nobile remained burned into my memory. Fast forward a few months and Il Conventino agreed to send m a few bottles of their latest releases.

To say I am impressed is an understatement. These wines play second fiddle to no one in Tuscany.

Il Conventino, Rosso di Montepulciano 2018

What a fun wine to drink! The Il Conventino, Rosso di Montepulciano is mostly Sangiovese with small amounts of Caniaolo and Colorino. Aged in cask for three months. Charine puts it best, “This wine should be a pantry staple for every wine lover. What a congenial company. Like a basket of red cherries, blueberries, and blackcurrants dumped onto the senses, gliding across the palate with cushion-soft comfort before a sense of crunchiness hits. Rose and black pepper pop by as guests somewhere along the way.”

Do yourself a favor and buy this wine by the case! Score: 89/100

Il Conventino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

Il Conventino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is mostly Sangiovese and again with small amounts of Caniaolo and Colorino. It spent 24 months in cask. This has a great nose of leather, tobacco, cedar, sour cherry, and a touch of tangerine peel. It’s an old school style of Sangiovese which I love. Bright mid-palate with plenty of acidity and chewy tannins. In between a Chianti Classico and a Brunello di Montalcino. Long finish. Score: 92/100

Il Conventino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2016

The Il Conventino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva is mostly Sangiovese with small amounts of Caniaolo and Colorino. The wine spent 30 months in cask. The wood shows a little more than the standard Vino Nobile but it isn’t a hindrance. This is a wine with class and depth. It smells like a shelf full of old, leather-bound books. Notes of mahogany, exotic spices, and earth accompany the dried cherry notes. Full-bodied on the palate, this is more savory than fruity. The finish is complex and long with chewy tannins. Brilliant wine with refinement and a certain Tuscan flair. Score: 94/100

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

Do you like our content?

If you like our articles and videos, we’d love for you to be a part of our community on Patreon. The support from Patreon helps keep the content coming and you access to behind the scenes content. It also gives us the chance to get to know you better. Check out the Exotic Wine Travel Patreon page by clicking the photo below.

Il Conventino 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 Il Conventino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appeared first on Wine Travel.