Valdipiatta, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2015 (about $27)
Italian Wine for september, 2021
This wonderful Vino Nobile is produced by the father and daughter team of Giulio and Miriam Caporali, owner and winemaker, respectively, of the Tenuta Valdipiatta winery near Montepulciano in southern Tuscany. Miriam’s previous training and wine-making experience in Bordeaux is reflected in this flavorful and polished wine.
Valdipiatta’s 2015 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made primarily of Sangiovese (called Prugnolo Gentile in southern Tuscany) with 15 percent Canaiolo Nero. The grapes are selected from the estate’s best vineyards and separately vinified in temperature-controlled steel tanks. After fermentation the wines are combined and aged in French oa
k barriques and large-format Slavonian oak barrels for 18 months and then aged in the bottle for an additional 6 months. The wine has 14.5 percent alcohol.
Vino Nobile doesn’t get much better than this smooth-tasting, elegant example. Cool-temperature fermentation followed by a year-and-half in oak enables Sangiovese’s primary dark berry and ripe cherry flavors to really shine.
The black currant and plum aromas are full-on seductive and complemented by some subtler notes of seasoned oak. There are no rough edges here, just a full-flavored, ripe and round mouthfeel with graceful tannins. The finish is balanced and unrushed with warm spice notes providing texture to the finish.
This 2015 Vino Nobile would be a great table companion for any gathering where mushroom risotto, pasta with ragù or other rich meat dishes such as barbequed beef ribs, beef stew or roast veal are on the menu.
©Richard Marcis
September 8, 2021
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