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| ~ Antique Cellars of Valdipiatta ~ |
When I’m asked about Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, invariably the first names that come to mind are Avignonesi and Poliziano. They are stalwarts of the area. Boscarelli, Fattoria del Cerro, Dei come to mind as well, but Valdipiatta was new to me and I was eager to try it.
The vineyards lie in the commune of Montepulciano, just due east of the town center. Giulio Caporali, Valdipiatta’s founder, purchased the estate in the late 1980s to pursue his dream of creating a great wine. With an, innovative approach and profound respect for the land, Giulio has been able to elevate Valdipiatta to one of the top producers in the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appellation. In 2002, he transferred ownership of the Estate to his daughter Miriam. Sharing her father’s passion for Montepulciano’s terroir and its ancient winemaking tradition, she decided to dedicate herself completely to the family business. Today, she serves as general manager in charge of sales and public relations.
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| ~ Estate Vineyards at Valdipiatta ~ |
The 2009 Valdipiatta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is 85% Sangiovese and 15% Canaiolo Nero that is fermented in stainless steel and then barrel aged for 6 months in barrique and 12 months in large Slovenian Botte. The color has surely not been fixed by the barrique as it is a deep ruby with almost orange reflections toward the rim. Dusty spices and flowers great the taster on the nose and there is a slight meaty aspect to the aroma as well. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied and appears slightly lean, especially given the ripeness of the vintage. There are flavors of bitter cured olives, cherries and a smokey, earthy tobacco note. Straightforward and tasty enough, but I’d like more body and richeness to the fruit, especially given the vintage. This seems more advanced in it’s profile than I’d expect. 86 points, about $22.
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| ~ Valdipiatta Vino Nobile 2009 – Note the color. ~ |
Avanti…….
