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Preview Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2021 — by Filippo Magnani

Wine, history and tradition all mixed in this extraordinary wine region!

The “Anteprima” preview of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, usually held in February , was postponed to the 17th and 18th of May. Another great effort by another Tuscany’s consortium, opening their doors to international and Italian journalists. We were summoned to the beautiful town of Montepulciano, in the heart of the village, inside the suggestive Medici fortress where the Consorzio del Vino Nobile and the Enoliteca are located. You can feel the history above your head, surrounded by art, soft hills, vineyards and monuments! Extraordinary.

The event, this year, is unique in its kind since the Consortium reserved for us a surprise! Indeed the preview was an opportunity to not only to evaluate actual vintages on the market such as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2018 and the 2017 Reserves, Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 2019 but also to present the exciting new type of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; the denomination “Pieve” which will hit the market as early as 2024.

12 subzones and additional geographical units, represented by different Pievi (churches). The idea behind the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano “Pieve”, came from a scientific study which required the consent and collective participation of all the wine producers.

The Pieve originally was a church-owned building in charge of many duties, functioning not only as a church but also as a small hospital and as the village municipality. It is a name that will be a path between the past and future, intertwining the old culture and local winemaking with the international future and innovative production techniques. The grape blend will be tied to Sangiovese (also locally known as “Prugnolo Gentile”) and complementary native only Tuscan varieties allowed by the Consortium, with grapes exclusively produced by the producers and coming from vines that are at least fifteen years old. Another important factor is the implementation of an internal commission within the Consortium composed of oenologists and wine technicians. These experts will be delegated the task of assessing the characteristics that correspond to the specification before the required legislative steps.

Such interesting wines will represent the quality of this magnificent territory holding a precious history.

on my radar

Winery: Bindella – Tenuta Vallocaia
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2018
Ruby core with rims. Intense bouquet of cherry with balsamic overtones and slight scent of black pepper. Lovely entrance, round with ripe fruit, medium body. Firm, velvety tannins with a long finish. I like it !

Winery: Dei
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2018
Ruby core with narrow light garnet rim. Intense nose of ripe plum and notes of rhubarb and new leather. Powerful structure with ripe red fruit, fragrant with well integrated silky tannins. Elegant with a long finish. Lovely wine.

Winery: Poderi Boscarelli
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2018
Brillant, ruby red with compacted rim. Pronounced flavour of cassis and violet. Spicy with overtones of leather. Full bodied with quite bright acidity. Well balanced with rich red fruit and elegant tannins. Harmonious finish. Charming wine with ageing potential.

Winery: Poliziano
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2018
Ruby colour turning slightly purple. The nose expresses flavours of red fruit and rhubarb with a hint of mint. The palate is balanced with notes of ripe cherry and prune. Dry and fragrant, with soft tannins and long persistence. Full body with a nice end. Great wine.

Winery: La Ciarliana
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2018
Clean with a deep ruby core. Lovely aromas of ripe plum with a touch of vanilla. Blackcherry in the palate with a light toasty scent. Full body with round, sweet tannins. Fresh and harmonious finish. I like it !

Winery: Salcheto
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2018
Bright with paler reflections. Pronounced flavour of red cherry, wild blueberry and balsamic notes and anice. Rich and well structured, good balance of body, fruit, acidity and velvety tannins. Lovely wine.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2017 Riserva
[wines 15 reviewed]

The Riservas 2017 turned out to be rich and ripe with intense fruit. The wines showed good structure, sweet tannins, and a discrete alcohol presence.

on my radar

Winery: Tenuta Valdipiatta
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2017 Riserva
Deep ruby core, paler on the hedge. Complex nose with flavours of dark cherry, prune and chocolate. Juicy palate with good acidity, discrete alcohol level and soft tannins. Fragrant and long. I like this wine!

Winery: Tenuta della Talosa
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2017 Riserva
Brilliant deep red. Attractive bouquet of strawberry and violet mixed with spicy notes of black pepper. Full body with lots of red fruit in the center palate with smoky scents on the back. It expresses harmony with velvety tannins and long, fresh finish. Lovely wine.

Winery: Le Berne
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2017 Riserva
Brilliant, deep ruby core with violet hues. Intense flavour of black cherry and liquorice with overtones of lavender and new leather. Fragrant entrance with discrete alcohol and ripe fruit. Sweet, velvety tannins and quite long aftertaste. Harmonious, charming wine.

Winery: La Braccesca
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2017 Riserva, Vigneto Santa Pia
Colour ranging from deep ruby core to lighter rim. It shows a lovely bouquet of ripe plum, violet and chocolate with a hint of tobacco. Full body with lively acidity well integrated with rich red fruit. Silky tannins with elegant finish. Great wine.

THE 2020 HARVEST

The year 2020 was defined by four key periods; germination from the 28th of March to the 19th of April; flowering from the 22nd to the 31 May; fruit ripening between the 21st of July and 21st August and the harvest which began on the 15th of September. Heavy rains interfered with harvesting operations, and in some areas of the appellation they continued without interruption. For this reason, the harvest was extended until the first week of October to avoid botrytis infections and a drop in yield quality. The wines of 2020, when tasted, demonstrated intense colors, a fine varietal aromatic expression and structure that is supported by medium acidity and tannins. On an analytical level, one can detect normal values of intensity and color tone, acidity, pH, extracts, and total polyphenols. The alcoholic grades are medium to high. Balance and elegance are keywords to describe the eccentricities of 2020 wines.

Montepulciano

Near the city of Siena, Nobile di Montepulciano D.O.C.G., Rosso di Montepulciano D.O.C and Vin Santo di Montepulciano D.O.C, are exclusively made within the city limits of the town of Montepulciano, near the city of Siena. We are talking of a territory that has been a wine production zone for centuries, witness to not only the progress in cultivation techniques but also of the geopolitical impact on those “noble” hills. We have known these hills as a wine territory since the 17th century. It is a place that captured the attention of elite and noble families of Tuscany and was recognized as one of the finest red wine areas of the region. Vino Nobile has been one of Italy’s most esteemed wines for centuries, though it has been eclipsed in recent times by other Tuscan wines. The turning point was 1980 with the birth of the Consortium. In the last 15 years, the consortium has made enormous efforts to elevate the production in Montepulciano. Only in the recent decades Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has witnessed amazing growth in terms of winemaking techniques and quality. Today, the roughly 70 producers of Montepulciano believe that the Sangiovese produced in this district can top the levels of excellence of the other Tuscan icon wines.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
International Markets

Always a big “Thank You” to my colleague, and friend, Liz Palmer !

Filippo Magnani

Benvenuto Brunello 2021 Preview – Tasting Sensational New Vintage Brunellos – A Tempting Invitation To Discover the Wines and the Captivating Region of Montalcino – by Filippo Magnani

After Benvenuto Brunello “OFF”, the first preview of the year which was in March, an additional edition of Benvenuto Brunello was organized for the press from the 16th and the 17th May dedicated to the Tuscan wine previews “Anteprime di Toscana”. Thanks to the diligence of the Consortium Brunello di Montalcino, the tastings took place in-person in the heart of Montalcino village in the beautiful Monastery of Sant’Agostino. Forty kilometers south of the city of Siena, Montalcino is a stunning hilltop town in the heart of Tuscany. With rolling hills and farmland of rare beauty, the village’s distinctive mount is encircled by forest. Vineyards and olive groves fill the countryside and many historical stone buildings are witness to centuries of cultivation in this area. Montalcino and the villages of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Sant’Angelo, and Torrenieri are picturesque hamlets with an overall population of just over five thousand inhabitants. This territory is of particular historical character, having never lost touch with the cultural heritage and traditions.

It is important to note that this DOCG is among the wine-growing areas with the highest organic incidence in Italy.

Following safety protocols, the capacity of participants was extremely limited and ensured proper distance between persons. All journalists and writers were called to taste and evaluate the last vintages released on the market: Rosso di Montalcino 2019, Brunello di Montalcino 2016, and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015. We can say that this edition of Benvenuto Brunello will surely remain a memory in each of our minds, not only for the outstanding organization that the consortium put on stage but also for the combination of two remarkable vintages.

Both 2016 and 2015 had exceptional conditions in the vineyard and produced wines of absolute complexity and longevity.

The vintage 2016 was outstanding in terms of balance. Rainfall throughout the winter into the beginning of the spring was consistently average. After the blooming, rains in July set the perfect conditions for a great vintage. Summer shifted from not so high temperature (max 32°) to very chilly nights (min 13°), diurnal moderate temperatures alternated to night precipitation, which offered the wines an amazing structure, complexity, and aroma. The maturation took longer, a fundamental factor both for the different layers of the aroma and the quality of the tannins (especially in the Sangiovese grape and for long lasting wines)

The 2015 vintage was characterized by a cool winter preceded by an irregular spring, which continued with a hot growing season during the summer with adequate rain. Harvest brought limited rainfall and good ventilation which favoured the last stages of ripening of the bunches up to harvest…..continues .. https://bit.ly/3zbCDJR.

I have missed my friends and colleagues during this Benvenuto Brunello but I really hope that was the preview of the restart, once again in-person hopefully we will be able to discover this beautiful wine paradise in the near future.

Always a big thank to my collegue and friend Liz Palmer !

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Celebrating Wines of Italy: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

From Alto Adige down to Sicily, a few countries can boast the variety, quality and history as Italy. I enjoyed an online Master Class on Vino Nobile di Montepulciano a few weeks ago to learn more about Tuscany’s noblest red wine. The masterclass and tasting was organized by the Italian Trade Commission, Consorzio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and hosted by Ms. Lauren Power.

Nobile became D.O.C in 1966 and D.O.C.G. in 1980. These Sangiovese-based red wines are named after the town Montepulciano.

Throughout history, these wines were favored amongst Italian Kings, Popes, Presidents and celebrated as wine of the nobles, hence its name “Nobile”. Thomas Jefferson, a renowned wine aficionado, fell under its spell, stating: “For the present I confine myself to the physical want of some good Montepulciano…this being a very favorite wine and habit having rendered the light and high flavored wines of a necessary of life with me. It was most superlatively good.”

There are 1,300 hectares currently under vine for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The vineyards are situated between 250 and 600 meters above sea level. By law, these wines are made up of (minimum 70%) Sangiovese (‘Prugnolo Gentile’) with the balance of 30% of other varieties also authorized by the region. Other legal requirements include that both vinification and ageing must take place in the municipal area of Montepulciano and must be aged for two years (three for Riserva) before being sold.

We tasted both 2016 and 2017 vintages.

The 2016 as a “classic vintage”; it had nice intense colour, with pronounced aromas, good structure and tannic texture, with medium acidity and alcohol – overall a year with high quality, elegant and refined.

The 2017 vintage is considered outstanding – there was extreme hot and dry weather conditions that impacted vine growth which resulted in smaller yields and excellent quality wines. The 2017 wines have intense colour, are more concentrated, some darker notes; are well-balanced both in alcohol and acidy, and complex with significant tannins.

Here are eight wines tasted as part of this Master Class, which showcased 2016 and 2017 vintages:

Cantina Del Giusto San Claudio II D.O.C.G. 2017

85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 5% Mammolo

Six months in stainless steel, 24 months in large Slavonian Oak and eight months in the bottle. Cantina del Giusto is a small size farm at the the foot of Montepulciano, in Acquaviva.

Tasting Notes:
Ruby red with a slight orange tint; a bit high on alcohol; precise and defined sensory profile of raspberry, cherry, plum with hints of lemon zest, some smoke and earthiness; medium body perfectly ripe tannins and with a long finish

www.cantinadelgiusto.it

Fattoria del Cerro Silineo D.O.C.G. 2017

100% Sangiovese

Eighteen months aging.

This the largest private estate producing Vino Nobile, which also invests in indigenous varietals and biodiversity.

Tasting Notes:
Vivid ruby red; elegant and bold with a smooth and strong body showing cherry, raspberry, chocolate and earthy notes both on the nose and comes through to the palate; malolactic fermentation comes through with hints of cream and butter; a savoury wine with a nice long finish.

www.fattoriadelcerro.it

Il Molinaccio La Spinosa D.O.C.G. 2017

100% Sangiovese

Il Molinaccio is close to the town of Montepulciano, is currently transitioning to certified organic and has a strong green philosophy.

After Malolactic fermentation, wine ages for twelve months in French Allier oak and 12 months in bottle.

Il Molinaccio states: ‘the porcupine is a shy and feared animal but La Spinosa, on the contrary, shows itself with an elegant dress’.

Tasting Notes:
Ruby red, graceful, elegant on the nose of raspberry, cherry currant; hints of pepper, mushroom and coffee – all present through to the taste – well-balanced, medium body, soft tannins and a round finish.

www.ilmolinaccio.com

Salcheto D.O.C.G. 2017

100% Sangiovese

70% large barrels/30% tonneau for eighteen months, with six months in bottle.

Salcheto is organic, biodynamic and committed to environmental sustainability. Their wines are sulfite-free and use indigenous yeasts.

Tasting Notes:
This wine displays notes of flowers and red berry aromas, red plums, rose petals; medium-full body; notes of red fruits, spice; fine tannins very well blended in the matrix; creamy rich with a long finish.

www.salcheto.it

Tenuta Valdipiatta D.O.C.G. 2017

95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo

Family-owned winery founded in 1960; is certified organic and has sustainability and environmentally sensitive practices.

Aging period of 15-18 months, partly in French oak barriques and partly in Slavonian oak barrels of 30 and 50 hl

Tasting Notes:
Ruby red with hints of orange; opens up on the palate showing notes of flowers, plums, with some hints of smoke; medium-full body, soft and mature tannins – well-balanced finish.

www.valdipiatta.it

Podere Casanova D.O.C.G. 2016

97% Sangiovese

Malolactic fermentation in stainless steel and subsequent transfer in barriques, casks, and 1000 l barrels for 18 months; followed by 6 months in the bottle.

Podere Casanova, is located in the heart of Tuscany on the borders of Val d’Orcia near Lake Trasimeno and Montepulciano.

Tasting Notes:
Intense ruby red color; aromas of red fruits, currants and black cherry, with subnotes of cocoa, tobacco and coffee; the palate it is confirmed by vivid freshness and flavor, dynamic, juicy, presents a strong body and fleshy tannins; pleasant ending.

www.poderecasanovavini.com

Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano D.O.C.G. 2016

Mostly Sangiovese

18 months in large 35-85 hl Slavonian durmast barrels, with a short time in the bottle.

Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano is the oldest cooperative in Tuscany with around 400 member estates with a total of 1,000 hectares. The vineyards are cultivated using the espalier system, with spurred cordon vine training, Guyot, double Guyot and G.D.C.

Tasting Notes

Bright ruby in colour; cherry, blackberry and wet-earth aromas and flavors, with notes of spice and smoke; medium to full body; round with soft tannins; long finish with some lingering chocolate and wood flavours.

www.vecchiacantinadimontepulciano.com

Carpineto Riserva D.O.C.G. 2016

70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), 30% Canaiolo and other authorized grape varietals.

Carpineto was founded in 1967 in Dudda, just outside of Greve, in Chianti by Giancarlo Sacchet and Antonio Mario Zaccheo with the purpose of making great Sangiovese.

Best decant for 1-2 hours before tasting.

Tasting Notes:
Intense ruby red; is wonderfully fleshy and expressive, has plenty of structural underpinnings; dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol, licorice and mocha; The balance of fruit depth allied to a mid-weight sense of structure is compelling; well-balanced and elegant with tons of character.

www.carpineto.com

WOMEN IN WINE TALKS Announces an exclusive “Live Talk” with Albiera Antinori – Tenuta Guado al Tasso and Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta – Tenuta San Guido

WOMEN IN WINE TALKS

hosted by

Liz Palmer, President – Les Dames d’Escoffier (Ontario Chapter)

It is our great pleasure to invite you to be part of an exclusive “live talk” with

Albiera Antinori – Tenuta Guado al Tasso

and

Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta – Tenuta San Guido
Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

This event is scheduled for

Monday, September 21^st at 7 pm (Rome time) on Zoom Platform

Shari Mogk-Edwards (Canada) and Filippo Magnani (Bolgheri) will modulate the discussions between Albiera Antinori and Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta. You will learn about the amazing story of their families, the Bolgheri territory, and its wines. This is not to be missed!

Albiera and Priscilla, two women representing two historical and renowned Italian wine estates in Bolgheri, producing the iconic wines Guado al Tasso and Sassicaia. Nowadays, these two women together with Cinzia Merli from Le Macchiole winery, are also guiding the direction of the Board of Consorzio DOC Bolgheri and will discuss the vision of this wine appellation and territory.

Filippo Magnani, one of the top global Italian wine travel experts in Italy, will provide an overview of Bolgheri as “the hidden gem of Tuscany”, and why Bolgheri should be the next wine destination for both wine enthusiasts and wine professionals.

Host and Organizer:

Liz Palmer – President of Les Dames d’Escoffier (Ontario Chapter), Award-winning author, Dame Chevalier de Coteaux de Champagne, Educator, Wine Judge and voted one of the “Top 20 Global Wine Influencers for 2020 “ and founder of UPSocial Wine and Spirits Agency www.liz-palmer.com

Speakers from Bolgheri:

Albiera Antinori – Owner of Tenuta Guado al Tasso in Bolgheri / President of Consorzio DOC Bolgheri Tuscany / Member of the Association Le Donne del vino in Italy (The Women of Wine of Italy) www.guadoaltasso.it

Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta – Co-owner of Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri / Vice-President of Consorzio DOC Bolgheri Tuscany / Member of the Association Le Donne del vino in Italy (The Women of Wine of Italy). www.tenutasanguido.com

Moderators:

Shari Mogk-Edwards is the founder of Shari’s Picks Consulting. Her career spans 36 years with the world’s largest single buyer of beverage alcohol – the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. As a former VP and head buyer at LCBO, Shari Mogk-Edwards tasted and selected wines and spirits from around the world. She developed Shari’s Picks and now makes wine recommendations. www.sharispicks.ca

Filippo Magnani – Wine Travel Expert in Italy and Writer (The Italian Wine Insider). In 1999 he founded Fufluns Wine Tours, a boutique travel operator specialized in Wine Tours in Tuscany & Italy. www.filippomagnani.it – www.fufluns.com

Zoom link to join the Women in Wine Talk 7 PM (Rome)
on
Monday, September 21^st

[complimentary ticket] Click here for your complimentary ticket!

Eventbrite Page:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/women-in-wine-talks-with-albiera-antinori-priscilla-incisa-della-rocchetta-tickets-120133780371

We look forward to seeing you.

With warm regards,

Liz Palmer
Founder of Women in Wine Talks
President of Ontario Chapter Les Dames d’Escoffier

Milano Wine Week Goes Digital – October 3 – 11 2020

Milano Wine Week will represent the first international wine event since the global Covid-19 shutdown. This year the organizers have set up a series of food and wine pairing demonstrations with top Italian chefs, for both trade and consumers that focuses on wine providing the inspiration for the dish – this online event will take place at a test kitchen near the Piazza del Duomo.

Milan Wine Week 2020 will be focusing on experiential events that connect with wine consumers, rather than a wine fair with booths. The organizers are also setting up small wine worlds within the popular neighborhoods in Milan; one neighborhood will focus on Franciacorta wines while another will focus on Prosecco wines, i.e., each neighborhood will have wine bars and restaurants focusing on that specific wine area. Each neighborhood will become a particular wine consorzio (association).

For trade and media, there will be a series of masterclasses and wine tastings as well as seminars that will not only focus on advice, guidance and networking opportunities but it will speak about exploring opportunities in a post-Covid world while all events will honor rules and government guidelines for avoiding the spread of the virus.

Milan Wine Week an international event and for 2020 they have upped their digital game by having events taking place in ten key cities: New York, San Francisco, Miami, Toronto, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Moscow, Munich and London that will be linked live to events taking place in Milan such as a winemaker leading a tasting and connecting live to other international cities via the internet.

Last year, Milan Wine Week attracted over 300,000 attendees across 300 event spaces in the northern Italian city.

“When our reality changes we need to change accordingly. Milano Wine Week has risen to the challenge by turning a gap into an opportunity,” Federico Gordini, Fonder of Milano Wine Week states

“During the lockdown, we decided to reimagine and adjust our business model in order to create something that was revolutionary and suitable for these times, trying to achieve an even bigger endeavor at an international level, while complying with strict regulations,” he added.

The week-long event will also gather opinion leaders, international professionals and consumers, and will include seminars, masterclasses, tastings and forums exploring everything from millennial drinking habits to wine retail trends.

“We will act as a broadcaster streaming a series of programs that can be accessed in real-time around the world. For the first time in our history we have decided to create a common thread connecting all the events in our schedule,” Gordini said.

Pre-registration : https://www.milanowineweek.com/digital-wine-fair-pre-registration/