Category: Wines of Italy

Great Italian Wines [Master Class] Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties – Montepulciano & Aglianico

I attended the online Masterclass Series “Great Italian Wines – Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties” –  Montepulciano & Aglianico on Thursday, April 15th,  Part 3 in the series, and here is what I found out.

Montepulciano
Vines in Montepulciano have been cultivated since the late 1700s. Currently, Montepulciano is the second most widely planted varietal in Italy, just after Sangiovese, and is planted mainly in central Italy, predominantly in Abruzzo, as well as the regions of Marche, Molise. and Puglia.

The most famous Montepulciano wines come from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC. It is a high-yielding grape that thrives in the area of Abruzzo. Winemaking traditions in Abruzzo date back to the 6th century BC. Montepulciano is produced in each of Abruzzo’s provinces – L’Aquila (Capital), Chieti, Pescara, and Teramo – and over half of the 32,000 hectares of vines are planted to this varietal. This variety has a blue-purple skin colour; is late-ripening and thick-skinned yet produces wines with softer tannins and lower acidity.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo was designated a DOC in 1968 and requires at least 85% of the wine to be made with Montepulciano varietal and no more than 15% of Sangiovese.

Important to note – This is Montepulciano “The Indigenous Variety” NOT Vino Nobile di Montepulciano MONTEPULCIANO

Aglianico
Aglianico is considered to be the “Barolo of the South”, with the finest examples found in Basilicata and Campania. Basilicata is a region located in the instep of the “boot of Italy” which borders Campania, Puglia, and Calabria between the Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts.

Aglianico del Vulture DOC was established in 1971; 2,400 hectares are cultivated on volcanic soils from Mount Vulture.  Aglianico is the only permitted grape within this DOC. The best examples of Aglianico del Vulture DOC wines are grown between 350 to 500 metres above sea level.

The Aglianico varietal has a dark blue-black colour and is thick-skinned; is a late-ripening variety that can be harvested into November and is also low-yielding. This varietal also requires abundant sunshine and dry weather; thrives on steep slopes, high altitudes, and volcanic soils. These wines tend to be full-bodied, have good structure, firm tannins, and are age-worthy.

Wines Tasted

Torre Dei Beati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2018
Varietal: 100% Montepulciano (organic)

Deep, violet-ruby red in colour; elegant nose with complex blackberry fruit, hints of spice and mint; on the palate ripe red berries and earthy notes; well-structured with refined tannins through to a long finish. This is an elegant interpretation of Montepulciano.
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Score: 90 points

Grifalco Aglianico Del Vulture 2018
Varietal: 100% Aglianico

Ruby red in colour; the nose is generous and elegant; fresh and preserved red berries, enriched with balsamic note and mineral notes; the palate is bold and full-bodied with lovely red and black cherry and earthy flavours; structured tannins; good acidity lengthens the deep defined finish.
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Score: 91 points

@italchambers @trueitaliantaste @cavinonawine #trueitaliantaste #extraordinaryitaliantaste #iffoodcouldtalk #indigenousgrapevarieties #greatitalianwines #aglianico #BarolooftheSouth #Montepulciano #winetasting #instawine #winelovers #Italianwinelovers

Nebbiolo, a milestone for exploring the magnificent wines of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero wine destinations [Part 1] – Filippo Magnani

Nebbiolo Prima 2021 is an important tasting that embraces the wine areas of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero, the champions of Piedmont. Considering this particular period, I have been very fortunate to participate in the 25th edition, by Albeisa, end of March.

Albeisa, Unione Produttori Vini Albesi, is a consortium, founded to promote the great wines of the Alba area to the world. The history of this consortium is linked in a twofold way to the same-named and unmistakable Albeisa bottle. For Nebbiolo Prima this year, they have majestically organized a limited tasting, setting restricted policies to be able us to review the wines in total security.

Four days of intensive work, all dedicated to one of the protagonists of the Italian wine scene and a milestone to discover Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero territories: Nebbiolo grape, the noble of Italian native grape varieties. The name Nebbiolo derives from the Italian word “Nebbia” which translates to fog or mist. A challenging and sensitive grape that, in the right hillside spot (south-facing), expresses itself in a unique and beautiful complexity. It prefers rich calcareous tufa-based soil – such as the ones in Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero.

At the tasting, all the Nebbiolos were presented blind, in five glasses at a time. We reviewed 336 wine of different denominations: DOCG Roero 2018 and Riserva 2017, DOCG Barbaresco 2018 and Riserva 2016, DOCG Barolo 2017 and Riserva 2015.

Tasting report of Nebbiolo Prima 2021 

Roero
Roero is that section of land located to the north of Alba town, in the province of Cuneo, on the left bank of the river Tanaro, between the plain of Carmagnola and the low hills of Asti.

Wine denomination DOCG

(controlled and guaranteed designation of origin)

Grape Minimum aging Released on the market 
Roero Docg95% Nebbiolo

5% other

non-aromatic red grape

20 months, of which 6 in woodfrom the 1st July  of second year after the harvest
Roero Docg Reserve95% Nebbiolo

5% other

non-aromatic red grape

32 months, of which in 6 woodfrom the 1st July  of third year after the harvest

Tastings Roero DOCG 2018  (15 wines reviewed)

Most of the Roero 2018 that I tasted were fresh, harmonious with good fruit and quite long finish.

On my radar:

Winery: Bric Castelvej – Canale
Wine:    Roero Docg 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pale ruby core with light purple hue towards the edge. The nose is fruity and dynamic with a hint of pepper. Well structured body with medium alcohol and soft tannins, a bit light at the end. Good wine.

 

Winery: Lorenzo Negro – Monteu Roero
Wine: Roero Docg 2018 Prachiosso

 

 

 

 

 

Medium ruby-red. Intense flavour of red plum and notes of violet. Medium acidity with discreet alcohol level. Fruity and spicy. Quite a long aftertaste.  I like it.

 

My pick:

Winery: Deltetto – Santo Stefano Roero
Wine: Roero Docg  2018 Gorrini

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brilliant red ruby colour.  Distinctly rose floral nose mixed with hints of dark cherry and fresh coffee. Full-bodied with pleasant red notes developing on the palate. Medium tannic structure. Light toasty finish. Charming wine.

 

Tastings Roero DOCG 2017 Riserva  (16 wines reviewed)

Across the tasting of the riservas, I noted some wines with slight dominant alcohol content although in general, the wines preserved ripe fruit and good acidity.

On my radar:

Winery: Malvirà – Canale
Wine:  Roero Docg Riserva 2017 S.S. Trinità 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colour ranging from ruby core to light garnet rim. Intense flavour  of ripe plum with balsamic notes of mint. Hint of vanilla. Fresh with lively red cherry. Good structured with quite delicate tannins. Lovely wine.

 

Winery: Cascina Chicco  – Vezza d’Alba
Wine: Roero Docg Riserva Valmaggiore 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep ruby colour. Rich bouquet of blackcherry with hints of violet. Round, full body and warm. Quite powerful tannins and long length. Lovely nebbiolo.

 

My pick:

Winery: Cascina Ca’ Rossa –  Canale
Wine:  Roero Docg Riserva Mompissano 2017 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colour is medium ruby with a compact rim. Pronounced intensity of ripe red fruit mixed with notes of chocolate and tobacco. Full body wine with good freshness. Present delicate tannins and quite long aftertaste.  Great wine.

Filippo Magnani
Wine Writer, DipWset, Wine travel expert in Italy

I want to thank Liz Palmer, who
kindly proposed for me to participate and report on the
Nebbiolo Prima 2021, to represent her website
See you in Piedmont !

#Nebbiolo #winewriter #winetravel #Italy #italianwine #Barolo, #Barbaresco #Roero #FilippoMagnani #NebbioloPrima2021 #Piedmont #Italianwinelovers #winelovers #instawine #winetasting #NebbioloPrima @filippomagnaniwine @albeisawines