7 Incredible Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Wines to Buy Now
Boscarelli, Avignonesi, Cantine Dei Bossona
The first wine region in Italy to be awarded DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has a history that stretches back to the Middle Ages. The beautiful hilltop town at its center, Montepulciano, was first settled by the Etruscans in the 4th century BCE and has acted as an important center of defense and commerce for two millennia. The gorgeous mountain village is also one of Tuscany’s most popular sites, with incredible examples of Renaissance architecture lining its medieval streets. More importantly, Montepulciano is the center of production of one of the region’s most important wines, whose moniker is often shortened to simply Vino Nobile.
Called “the king of all wines” by 17th-century author Francesco Redi in his book Bacchus in Tuscany, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made with a minimum of 70 percent Sangiovese, known locally as Prugnolo Gentile. It may be blended with additional local grapes such as Canaiolo, Colorino, and Mammolo, as well as international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Grapes must be grown in vineyards within the commune of Montepulciano that are situated between 820 and 1,970 feet above sea level. There are various options for aging, including up to 24 months aging in wood and up to 18 months aging in wood with the remaining months in other vessels, allowing for flexibility and winemaker preference. Riserva wines must be aged for a total of three years prior to release, with at least six months of that in bottle. Compared to the wines of nearby Brunello di Montalcino, which have a minimum aging requirement of five years, the wines of Montepulciano, while extremely high quality, are considered a lighter and more easy-drinking alternative.
The name itself refers to the high status held by the wines from the picturesque rolling hills surrounding the celebrated mountaintop village: Italian for “noble wine,” it harkens back to its historical prestige. A favorite of Italian aristocrats and nobility, and even beloved by Thomas Jefferson, Vino Nobili di Montepulciano is a worthy pour for any discerning wine lover. Here are seven that we are enjoying this week.
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Avignonesi 2020 Pogetto di Sopra Alleanza Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Image Credit: Avignonesi Ettore Falvo founded Avignonesi in 1974 and sold it to Belgian lawyer Virginie Saverys in 2009. She hired agronomist Adriano Zago, and under their direction, the estate has transitioned from traditional grape growing techniques to organic and biodynamic principles. Avignonesi 2020 Pogetto di Sopra Alleanza has aromas of bright cherry, red raspberry, and crushed violet petals with rounded tannins and flavors of raspberry, red plum, and warm vanilla.
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Boscarelli 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Cosa Grande
Image Credit: Boscarelli Egidio Corradi was born into a family of ancient nobility and studied economics before working as an international broker. In 1962, he purchased two abandoned plots of farmland and planted grapevines. His daughter and her husband took over the day-to-day operations of the winery, and today the third generation, Luca and Nicolò, run the estate. Their Costa Grande is dark ruby garnet with aromas of black raspberry, forest floor, brown baking spices, and vanilla. Full-bodied in the mouth, it has silky tannins and flavors of ripe cherry, saddle leather, and mocha.
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Cantine Dei Bossona 2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Image Credit: Cantine Dei Bossona The Bossona vineyard receives more sun than most vineyards in Montepulciano. This allows for excellent maturation of the grapes, leading to intense aromas and flavors in the finished wines. The vines were planted in 1961 and 1997 and sit at an altitude of 1,150 to 1,300 feet. After harvest and fermentation, this stunning wine was aged for 36 months in large barrels. It is full-bodied in the mouth with velvety tannins and has aromas and flavors of red raspberry, cherry, toasted almonds, and dark chocolate.
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Carpineto 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Image Credit: Carpineto Carpineto was founded in 1967 by Antonio Mario Zuccheo and Giovanni Carlo Sacchet. The two carefully chose appropriate plots of land, paying attention to soil types and exposure to the sun as well as which clones of Canaiolo and Sangiovese to plant. Their goal was to produce low-yielding but high-quality fruit to make their wines. Their 2019 Riserva has enticing aromas of geranium leaf, red plum, and bright red cherry with flavors of plum and cherry accented by dried rosemary in the finish, all wrapped in a layer of plush tannins.
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Fattoria della Talosa 2020 Alboreto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Image Credit: Fattoria della Talosa Roman businessman Angelo Jacorossi purchased Talosa in 1972, and today the estate totals 81 acres with three distinct cellars. The first is located next to the vineyards in Pietrose and is used primarily to dry grapes for Talosa’s Vinsanto. The second is situated above the vineyards, where the wines are aged in small barrels and bottles. The third cellar, used for aging in large wood casks, is located in the historic center of town between two storied buildings: Pallazzo Tarugi and Pallazzo Sinatti. Talosa Alboreto 2020 has floral aromas of purple flowers, fruit aromas including black cherry and raspberry, and spice aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg. It is soft in the mouth with ripe red fruit flavors and a touch of vanilla in the finish.
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Vecchia Cantina del Redi 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Image Credit: Cantina del Redi Cantina del Redi has been produced by the Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano since 1988 and is named for Francesco Redi, the Renaissance physician, naturalist, and poet. Its traditional aging cellar is in the center of Montepulciano and has recently been upgraded with new large tonneaux oak barrels used for aging. The larger barrels impart many pleasant oak characteristics but are not as potentially overpowering as new smaller standard barrels. The 2021 is garnet colored in the glass with aromas of red raspberry and black cherry that transition to flavors of cranberry, raspberry, leather, and mocha.
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Salcheto 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Image Credit: Salcheto Salcheto is named for the willow trees—salco—that grow along the stream of the same name in the heart of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appellation. It was converted to biodynamic farming in the 1990s and is well known for using native yeasts for fermentation and eschewing the use of sulfites in the winemaking process. The 2020 growing season was difficult in this area of the region because of late frost and extreme heat peaks during the summer, but winemaker Michele Manelli managed to produce a beautiful wine. It has aromas of black cherry, leather, forest floor, and crushed purple flowers that transition to flavors of raspberry, mocha, and cherry. Polished tannins and a rich vein of acidity light up the palate.
