~ Tenuta di Salviano is nestled alongside Lake Corbara in Umbria ~
Tenuta di Salviano is nestled on the heights surrounding lake Corbara in southern Umbria. The estate covers almost 5,000 acres along the lake and the banks of the Tiber river. However, only 173 acres are devoted to vines.
The modern version of the estate, as it exists today, was founded in the early part of the 20th century by the Incisa della Rocchetta family. Today, the estate is run by his children. The estate is located within the Orvieto DOC. Therefore, a significant portion of the plantings are devoted to Trebbiano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Grechetto. Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot are also grown to craft a variety of appealing reds. In 1998, Lago di Corbara was awarded DOC status.
~ Vines on the Tenuta di Salviano Estate slope down to Lake Corbara ~
Perhaps one of the merits of Umbrian wine is its relative affordability compared to its Tuscan neighbors. Values can abound without sacrificing quality. In my recent article introducing Madrevite, I highlighted a few. Today, we’re focusing on another value driven red called Turlo. The vines that give life to Turlo are 20-25 years in age. Once harvested, the grapes are vinified in stainless steel and then transferred to cement vats. Freshness is the key with Turlo.
~ Bottled wine resting in the cellars of Tenuta di Salviano ~
The 2016 Tenuta di Salviano Turlo is a stylish blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot. Deep ruby in color with violet highlights, the wine is very attractive to look at. The absence of any oak aging keeps this fresh and focused on juicy fruit flavors. Notes of black plums, lavender, cracked pepper and leather mark the nose.
On the palate, the wine is vibrant and driven with a medium bodied core of black fruits. Lively and fresh, this fruit flavors are enhanced with powdery mineral and pepper notes. Structure is provided by balanced acids and tannins. Versatile with a wide array of foods, there’s nothing not to like here given the cost. 88 points. About $10. Really nice value. Find this wine.
~ Turlo sports a new label in the 2016 vintage. This is a very tasty wine and provides quality well above its $10 price point ~
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Salute!
Thank you John !
I am sure it is a great wine….but for the marketing point of view with more exposure potential I will go with IGT Umbria.
Even most Italians do not even know where Lago di Corbara DOC is…..so on the export market this wine is completely lost….with all other thousands blends out there.
Otherwise will end up like the Montecucco DOC….a completely wrong appellation name ruined the future of many beautiful wines, who some are far better than their neighbour Rosso di Montalcino.
Hope for the best…????????
A fair point, I’d agree on both counts. I suspect that if this winery weren’t owned by Sassicaia it likely wouldn’t be imported here…. Mind you, I have no data to back that up.
I think the economics of a $10 bottle are really difficult for all concerned. Figure $1.50 for bottle and label, figure $1 for shipping and you are left with $7.50 which has to pay the producer, importer, distributor and retailer. That’s really challenging.
Steve, I surely don’t disagree with you but yet plenty of wines show up at those prices. All I can think is that the producer is either 1) making very little – maybe as little as 75 cents to 1.50 Euro per bottle on the wine or 2) the volume is so large that the per bottle profit becomes substantial. There are so many variables that it’s hard to say with any certainty. Also, presuming that you’re “layers” are only meant to indicate that specific persons profit, then items such import duties, customs, VAT, taxes, etc.. all get shaved off as well. Once here in the US, there is storage, PR, warehousing costs etc. that often get pushed back directly to the producer by the importer. It’s a tough go for sure.