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| ~ The Carpineto Estate in Montalcino ~ |
Everyone has a “Wine Epiphany”. Whether it’s the wine that moved you from sweet wines to dry, or from white to red, every serious wine drinker can likely point to a wine that made them say “Now I get it!” For me, that wine was the 1990 Carpineto Brunello. After enjoying that bottle, I knew there was much more to wine than a simple beverage with which to wash down pizza or pasta. I was hooked.
However, over the years, the quality of the wines from Carpineto’s vast vineyard holdings seemed a bit inconsistent and I think that caused some hesitation for buyers in the marketplace. I am happy to say that with current proprietor Antonio Zaccheo in charge, the wines from Carpineto have never been better.
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| ~ Winemaker & Proprietor Antonio Zaccheo at Benvenuto Brunello ~ |
Carpineto’s vineyards in Montalcino are some of the highest in the appellation and sit at approximately 1,400 feet above sea level. The farm consists of preserved stone buildings, olive groves and over 25 acres of north west facing vineyards which are all surrounded and protected by forest that shelters the vines from some of the harsher winds that come up from the Maremma.
Today we’re looking at one of the estates most recent releases, its Rosso di Montalcino.
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| ~ The historic villa on the Carpineto Estate which lies just West of Montalcino ~ |
The 2013 Rosso di Montalcino is an absolutely lovely wine from an uneven vintage. In the glass, the wine is a medium violet color with a textbook copper hue at the rim of the bowl. The color is deceptive as the body of the wine is substantial. On the nose, the wine exudes aromas of freshly cut flowers, crushed berry and Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, with precise and intense flavors that follow the nose. Lovely crushed berries are ripe, fresh and juicy with herbs, spice and fennel dust completing the flavors. What more could you want?
The 2013 was vinified in stainless steel and then transferred to a mixture of small and medium barrels for a short maturation before being bottled. The result is a fresh vibrant wine that is absolutely delicious and an excellent value at $19. 90 points. Disclosure: This bottle was an importer provided sample.
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| ~ 100% Sangiovese Grosso and a lovely value ~ |
Salute!
July 14, 2016
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