Montecucco Rosso & Sangiovese tasted during Anteprima Toscana 2019
I kicked off my Anteprima Toscana 2019 experience with a tasting of the wines of the little known Montecucco appealing but before I get to the wines I would like to add a preface regarding the Anteprima tastings.
Anteprima Toscana is a weeklong event allowing journalist and wine buyers to preview the wines of virtually of all Tuscany in organized tastings. I find the tastings invaluable, not only because you get to tate like wines side by side, but also because it would otherwise be impossible to taste this broady.
Having said that, these types of broad tastings have their limitations. I applaud my fellow tasters who endeavor to taste very wine on offer. I do not and frankly cannot. The Chianti Classico tasting this year featured some 475 wines, which even if spread out over the two full days would mean that I would spend approximately 2 minutes with each wine. That of course is a generous estimation not allowing for lunch, bathroom breaks, and waiting for the wines to be poured. I already have enough doubts about the efficacy of this format; though can think of none better, that I do not need to further reduce their utility by claiming to perform heroic feats of strength!
I would rather focus my energies on wines that warrant the effort, and devote a bit more time to each of those wines. Which is not to say that the wines I did not taste aren’t worth the effort, but rather simply means that out of either ignorance of understanding I have chosen other wines as being more pertinent to my audience and me.
After having said all that allow me to add one further caveat. Wine tasting is a very personal and imperfect game; ever more so when one spends only 5 minutes with a glass of wine. What follows are my impressions of those moments, snapshots with each wine and while I have confidence in my impressions of each of those glasses of wine, they are far from the complete picture. What I will say is that the wines that were truly impressive tend to remain truly impressive. They are the most complete wines, and in some but far from all, the most impressive in mass and scale, though I generally do not value mass and scale that much but in a comparative tasting these wines tend to stick out and let's face it, are generally very popular.
Wines that I have scored in the middle of my range, roughly from 85-90 points might go up and down a few points in subsequent tastings, but lack something special that the wines over 90 points offer. Wines that I scored under 85pts generally remain under 85 points due to an issue such as dilution, structural problems, lack of complexity, or observable defects. Below is my rating scale to help clarify my reviews.
96-100 A wine that expresses the maximum varietal expression from one of the great terroirs of the world at its peak. I wine
90-95 A wine that expresses the maximum varietal character and terroir. A wine I want to buy
87-89 A wine that expresses its varietal character well with the influence of terroir obvious. A wine I want to drink.
84-86 A wine that is a good example of its kind, but may lack complexity or ideal balance. A wine that I would drink
80-83 A wine that is correct and pleasant if undistinguished. I might prefer a beer.
Under 80 - generally undistinguished or suffering from some defect.
Now on the wines.
Anteprima Toscana is a weeklong event allowing journalist and wine buyers to preview the wines of virtually of all Tuscany in organized tastings. I find the tastings invaluable, not only because you get to tate like wines side by side, but also because it would otherwise be impossible to taste this broady.
Having said that, these types of broad tastings have their limitations. I applaud my fellow tasters who endeavor to taste very wine on offer. I do not and frankly cannot. The Chianti Classico tasting this year featured some 475 wines, which even if spread out over the two full days would mean that I would spend approximately 2 minutes with each wine. That of course is a generous estimation not allowing for lunch, bathroom breaks, and waiting for the wines to be poured. I already have enough doubts about the efficacy of this format; though can think of none better, that I do not need to further reduce their utility by claiming to perform heroic feats of strength!
I would rather focus my energies on wines that warrant the effort, and devote a bit more time to each of those wines. Which is not to say that the wines I did not taste aren’t worth the effort, but rather simply means that out of either ignorance of understanding I have chosen other wines as being more pertinent to my audience and me.
After having said all that allow me to add one further caveat. Wine tasting is a very personal and imperfect game; ever more so when one spends only 5 minutes with a glass of wine. What follows are my impressions of those moments, snapshots with each wine and while I have confidence in my impressions of each of those glasses of wine, they are far from the complete picture. What I will say is that the wines that were truly impressive tend to remain truly impressive. They are the most complete wines, and in some but far from all, the most impressive in mass and scale, though I generally do not value mass and scale that much but in a comparative tasting these wines tend to stick out and let's face it, are generally very popular.
Wines that I have scored in the middle of my range, roughly from 85-90 points might go up and down a few points in subsequent tastings, but lack something special that the wines over 90 points offer. Wines that I scored under 85pts generally remain under 85 points due to an issue such as dilution, structural problems, lack of complexity, or observable defects. Below is my rating scale to help clarify my reviews.
96-100 A wine that expresses the maximum varietal expression from one of the great terroirs of the world at its peak. I wine
90-95 A wine that expresses the maximum varietal character and terroir. A wine I want to buy
87-89 A wine that expresses its varietal character well with the influence of terroir obvious. A wine I want to drink.
84-86 A wine that is a good example of its kind, but may lack complexity or ideal balance. A wine that I would drink
80-83 A wine that is correct and pleasant if undistinguished. I might prefer a beer.
Under 80 - generally undistinguished or suffering from some defect.
Now on the wines.
Montecucco is little known in the US, and perhaps not much better known even in Europe. This of course helps keep the prices down, which is a good thing for consumers, though not for producers which helps explain why the region is still a bit of a mind field. There are some outstanding wines but also lots that I would not want to drink.
Another reason for this is the relative youth of the region, home to vines, as almost of Italy is, for centuries, the region only became a commercially viable region with the introduction of the DOC in 1998 and have since been awarded a DOCG in 2011 further reinforcing the potential of the region.
Another reason for this is the relative youth of the region, home to vines, as almost of Italy is, for centuries, the region only became a commercially viable region with the introduction of the DOC in 1998 and have since been awarded a DOCG in 2011 further reinforcing the potential of the region.
Situated in southern Tuscany, straddling the provinces of Siena and the Maremma, Montecucco is located on the southern slopes of the hills and base of Monte Amiata with vineyards as high as 500 meters above sea level. Sandwiched roughly between Brunello di Montalcino and Morellino di Scansano DOCGs it’s tempting to make the comparison between the three but it’s not an easy comparison to make. Montecucco is generally fruitier than Brunello, rounder and softer as its climate is a touch warmer, and yet without the vibrancy and tension that can be found in Morellino di Scansano, which is even further south, on softly rolling hills just south of the Montecucco DOCG. Perhaps the more volcanic soils in Morellino are the cause, but I believe that the producers of Montecucco simply need more time to understand their terroir and make the appropriate viticultural decisions.
The wines, as is typical of Tuscany, are based on Sangiovese, and require a minimum of 60% Sangiovese for Montecucco Rosso and 90% for Montecucco Sangiovese. Montepulciano is a popular if surprising compliment to the Sangiovese though Cabernet and Merlot might be more common.
Ageing requirement differ for the Rosso and Sangiovese DOCG and are as follows:
Rosso: 10 Months of ageing
Rosso Riserva: 12 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle
Sangiovese:12 months in barrel and 4 months in bottle
Sangiovese Riserva: 24 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle
Ageing requirement differ for the Rosso and Sangiovese DOCG and are as follows:
Rosso: 10 Months of ageing
Rosso Riserva: 12 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle
Sangiovese:12 months in barrel and 4 months in bottle
Sangiovese Riserva: 24 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle
Montecucco wines tasted during Anteprima 2019:
Outstanding
2015 Podere Assolati Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Soft and sweet oak notes dominate early on the nose until dark, very ripe fruit replaces them notes laced with hints of dusty gravels, earthy with a hint of braised leafy greens lending detail. In the mouth this is slightly austere, tense and strict with an iodine note on the mid palate. An understated wine, well balanced, not fruit driven, and as such a standout in this line-up, it’s austere but not painfully so. A touch of espresso foam creeps on to the nose, this is all detail, no great power, or depth, or mouthfeel, it's all angles, enticingly so and a wine that seems to reveal something new with each sip, By far the most anti-flavor elite of this line-up and as such a real winner for me. The finish is long, sneaky, and dominated by minerality brushy tannins and hints of ripe if astringent fruits. 92pts
2015 Peteglia Montecucco Rosso
Savory forest floor, downright Burgundian on the nose, enticingly so, with that combination of nuance and penetration that one finds in Burgundy. Lovely with red berry fruit and spice, broad and expansive in the mouth, really delivers a lot of substance, good but not excessive glycerin and dry extract. One of the most complete wines of the day, and while drinkable this has the balance to improve, finishes a touch on the short side but with juicy acids and ripe tannins that will support lengthening over time, the palate displays a touch of creaminess but not to the detriment of its overall taut and edgy nature, plenty of flavor but not palate staining. Bravo! 91pts
2015 Pianirossi La Fonte Montecucco Rosso
Very fragrant, earthy and dark, on the nose then fresh and bright on the palate with good inner mouth energy. There's a hint of rusticity to this, especially on the backend, but it feels light and unfettered, particularly in this company. Light fresh and delicious if uncomplicated with a long berry fruited finish that is nicely supported by fine ripe tannins and a gentle minerality. This just has a lightness and transparency that sets it apart from the rest of these, it's not super complex with a hint of dirtiness lending some complexity and detail but it is the wine I want to drink out of all of these, 90pts
Very good
2015 Maciarine Le Maciarine Montecucco Rosso
Saline, dark and serious on the nose, all tea and black fruit and freshly tilled soil, a touch soft with a fine suppleness. This does a fine job of showing bright sun inflected fruit in a rather transparent way; the fruit is bright juicy and plump on the long finish as well, Finely balanced, lacks a touch of brightness perhaps but is very expressive of fruit without the oak interference of many of its brethren, and there is a succulence, sapidity to this even if it’s not all about high acids. 90pts
2013 Tenuta L’Impostino Viandante Montecucco Riserva
Rather herbal and slightly minty on the nose with gamy and leathery base notes lurking in the background, Smooth, polished but not excessively so, this offers up a palate that combines fresh red fruitiness with the encroaching bronze edges of age, bringing in fine tea, spice and herb notes that lend detail to what is a modestly supple palate impression that turns firmer and more dried herbal on the long finish. A complex and classic wine offering the most complex palate of the day, but with the benefit of age. Texturally this is in a fine spot as well, still firm but with the eased edges of aged tannins, though it does show a suggestion of heat on the finale. Ready to go perhaps just a touch softer than I would prefer. 89pts
2015 Campi Nuovi Montecucco Sangiovese
Finely focused on the nose with wood spice lending this a certain cohesiveness. It’s quite nutmeg/cinnamony scented and the spice obscures the fruit at the moment though I get the impression that it will integrate nicely. Elegant in the mouth, very refined, again quite oaky but there's a pleasant lightness to this wine. Its more oak than i would prefer but the coffee and cream character it imparts is not offensive, clean, taut, lovely purity on the long finish, a wine with finesse, fruit flavor has a touch of a stewy edge though its more lingonberry and red cherry gaminess than black fruit. A fair bit of wood tannin to resolve, 88pts
2014 Collemassari Montecucco Riserva
Nutty oak and a touch of forest floor greets the nose, along with notes of prune and vanilla. Taut and linear in the mouth with just enough flesh to cover the structure leaving this with a racy feel, finely balanced, good length, certainly marked by the vintage, but considering that, quite a success. It’s gentle and elegant, with good depth to the dried orange rind, lingonberry and tart wild raspberry flavors that drive the long, very sapid, acid driven finish, i would drink this and it even seems to have pretty good potential for further development, lovely the ripeness to this fruit, just barely fully ripe. 88pts
2016 Poggio L’apparita San Gio Rosso Toscana
Smoky, with lots of leafy decomp lending complexity, perhaps this is advanced but it is fragrant and complex, there's a touch of oak, lovely fennel seed spiciness, a hint of white pepper and lovely red cherry wild berry fruit, with a vaguely medicinal mineral edge. Lovely in the mouth, with a shading of cocoa powder. Bright juicy vivid wine with aggressive if not rich fruit tannins, the tannins seems a touch outsized considering the evolution present but this is fun if rustic to drink today and might surprise on the upside with 3 years in the bottle. worth watching out for, 87pts
2015 Prato al Pozzo Arpagone Montecucco
A rather earthy early nose yields to a finely focused core of minty, herbal, dark almost plummy fruit. Elegant and with real finesse this is a wine with presence, it’s finely balanced with wonderfully ripe tannins and good juicy acidity but its a touch clumsy on the backend and never really expresses well defined flavors, its rich, dark, solid and probably can be described as sexy but it leaves me a bit cold. A wine of mass and texture and impressive as such but without much to really seduce one, though the finish is very long. 87pts
Good
2013 Perazzeta Licurgo Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Damp old or large format wood greets the nose followed by chalky earth and white paper laced dried cherry fruit. Complex and old school, Bright, edges really defined by acids, this has an overall bronzy and slightly blowsy feel to it with flavors that show a certain level of development. It’s relatively light on the palate and strikes me as rustic if in a pleasant way, finishing with a powerful acid wash to the palate and light wild raspberry fruit. Complex and interesting but lacks just a bit of hedonistic pleasure. 86pts
2016 Salustri Montecucco Rosso
Smoky oak, intense, with dark fruit, some mineral soil tones but overtly oaky at the moment. Sweetness from oak and spice compete with the sweet fruit here, it’s pleasant if a bit coarse from the wood at this stage, just a little minty but this is bright and juicy and long even if the oak intrudes a bit there is fine persistence to the fruit, 86pts
2015 Parmoleto Montecucco Rosso
Pencil shavings, a touch of black olive, smells a bit like Bordeaux, earthy, interesting but atypical. Bright and juicy on entry with good cut, there's a playfulness to the plate, it’s transparent and fairly light even if the fruit is verging towards dark berry flavors with wood tannin and spice entering the back end of the palate. The tannins are notably drying and this seems like a fine little wine that is too tannic. 84pts
2012 Poggio Mandorlo La Querce Montecucco Sangiovese
Sour on the nose with distinct notes of canned corn clouding the nose, which otherwise seems to rely on spicy red cherry fruit with a hint of dried orange peel. The corn tends to blow off but the canned sulfur note lingers. Fluid on the palate, super well balanced with a sculpted feel, there's that canned corn note though, not quite obscured by the macerated flavors of dark cherry and dried fruits that disappear in a flash on the long if dry and tannic finish. There is promise here and even as the glass sits this improves, but it does turn fairly tannic and doesn’t seem to have enough fruit to outlast the tannins, Its ambitious, without a doubt and might get someplace attractive, though I’m not sure I see it getting there, and I’m not sure what happens to the Dimethyl Sulfide 84pts
2015 Otto Ettari Montecucco Rosso
Floral and sweet on the nose with a hint of older or larger barrel lending just a touch of complexity. Glycerin rich, this is supple, a mouthfeel wine with fruit flavors that tend to the over-ripe and jammy if notably red side of the spectrum though with citrus accents. A bit flat, certainly short, serviceable but the floral notes on the nose certainly are attractive. It’s clean and grows on you as the fruit tannins lend their grip, just a bit flat on the mid palate. 84pts
Acceptable
2016 Villa Patrizia Istrico Montecucco Sangiovese
Sweet on the nose with lots of fruit and some stainless steel, mineral qualities, a bit animale on the palate with darker mulberry toned fruit, A touch soft in the mouth, decent acids, shows a touch advanced, simple with little follow through though this has a brisk and mineral feel on the finale. 83pts
2016 Montenero Montecucco Rosso
Tight, reticent, sweet, dark, slightly anonymous fruit attractive but non distinct,. Light and elegant in the mouth, much lighter than the nose might suggest, juicy fruit, lovely if simple on the palate, a bit chewy later on the palate, and yet there is something a bit stewy here, that clips the finish and leaves the mouth sticky and filmy, 82pts
2015 Podere Montale Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Shows some high end wood on the nose supported by dark plummy fruit and rich moist earth aromas. Pleasant in the mouth if a touch sweet perhaps, this lacks a certain tension on the palate, feeling rather languid with dry tannins that easily surmount the levels of fruit available, chewy and dry on the finish, tough gong, though there is a core of attractive fruit here. 82pts
2015 Vegni e Medaglini D'Addabbo Montecucco Sangiovese
Coffee grinds and braised meats greet the nose followed by spicy red berry fruit, Oddly combining stewy flavors in the mouth with a bright, lively nature, not sure how one gets here but while it feels good the weight and darkness of the flavors are not really appealing, finish is astringent and almost bitter, a tough wine to like. 80pts
2015 Poggio Stenti Tribolo Montecucco Rosso
A bit stewy on the nose, lots of braised veggies and leafy greens, and chalky,. It’s complex but quite ripe and seemingly very long maceration, another wine that shows better in the mouth but this is a bit fresh, but over extracted tannins lend this a bad tea character, mineral flavors, and a touch of b bitterness, trying too hard. 80pts
Not recommended
2013 Poggio al Gello Rosso del Gello Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Dark on the nose with dirty barrel, dark blackberry and black cherry fruit, damp cigar tobacco and mushroomy earth aromas; powerful aromas. On the palate this is matte, has no real structural definition, is opaque on the palate, smooth, rich, an ovoid gem that slides across the palate like a ghost leaving a minty impression of oaky bitterness behind. It’s not really as bad as it sounds but it is the most anonymous of the wines tasted today; over extracted, chewy, tannic, and austere, one can hope that age might treat this with some kindness, today while it is not undrinkable it is tough going, 78pts
2015 Casale Pozzuolo Rosso della Porticcia Montecucco Sangiovese
Tight and a touch of matchstick on the nose, wouldn’t be surprised if this was bottled recently, softly oaky on the nose but shows mostly oak, in the mouth this is a bit soupy, not well put together, dry with harsh wood tannins and raw wood on the palate, ending hot. 77pts
2013 Basile Ad Agio Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Another victim of the canned corn, oaky, ashen, sweetly spicy, vulgar on the nose, This is intense and complex with virtually nothing I want to smell in my wine, Smooth and polished in the mouth, plenty of canned corn, nicely balanced though with a supple yet taut feel that is expertly achieved through glycerine acid balance. Contrived, feels assembled and finishes with an innate harshness. This should enjoy good commercial success; I don’t want to drink it. 76pts
2015 Poderi Firenze SottoCase Sangiovese Montecucco
Smoky a touch of rubbery reduction, which grows to be distracting, fluid in the mouth, a bit loose, nicely flavored if a bit evolved. Nice if modest finish combines a mineral edge with jammy dark fruit, though not well knit. Might recover but for now 75pts
Outstanding
2015 Podere Assolati Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Soft and sweet oak notes dominate early on the nose until dark, very ripe fruit replaces them notes laced with hints of dusty gravels, earthy with a hint of braised leafy greens lending detail. In the mouth this is slightly austere, tense and strict with an iodine note on the mid palate. An understated wine, well balanced, not fruit driven, and as such a standout in this line-up, it’s austere but not painfully so. A touch of espresso foam creeps on to the nose, this is all detail, no great power, or depth, or mouthfeel, it's all angles, enticingly so and a wine that seems to reveal something new with each sip, By far the most anti-flavor elite of this line-up and as such a real winner for me. The finish is long, sneaky, and dominated by minerality brushy tannins and hints of ripe if astringent fruits. 92pts
2015 Peteglia Montecucco Rosso
Savory forest floor, downright Burgundian on the nose, enticingly so, with that combination of nuance and penetration that one finds in Burgundy. Lovely with red berry fruit and spice, broad and expansive in the mouth, really delivers a lot of substance, good but not excessive glycerin and dry extract. One of the most complete wines of the day, and while drinkable this has the balance to improve, finishes a touch on the short side but with juicy acids and ripe tannins that will support lengthening over time, the palate displays a touch of creaminess but not to the detriment of its overall taut and edgy nature, plenty of flavor but not palate staining. Bravo! 91pts
2015 Pianirossi La Fonte Montecucco Rosso
Very fragrant, earthy and dark, on the nose then fresh and bright on the palate with good inner mouth energy. There's a hint of rusticity to this, especially on the backend, but it feels light and unfettered, particularly in this company. Light fresh and delicious if uncomplicated with a long berry fruited finish that is nicely supported by fine ripe tannins and a gentle minerality. This just has a lightness and transparency that sets it apart from the rest of these, it's not super complex with a hint of dirtiness lending some complexity and detail but it is the wine I want to drink out of all of these, 90pts
Very good
2015 Maciarine Le Maciarine Montecucco Rosso
Saline, dark and serious on the nose, all tea and black fruit and freshly tilled soil, a touch soft with a fine suppleness. This does a fine job of showing bright sun inflected fruit in a rather transparent way; the fruit is bright juicy and plump on the long finish as well, Finely balanced, lacks a touch of brightness perhaps but is very expressive of fruit without the oak interference of many of its brethren, and there is a succulence, sapidity to this even if it’s not all about high acids. 90pts
2013 Tenuta L’Impostino Viandante Montecucco Riserva
Rather herbal and slightly minty on the nose with gamy and leathery base notes lurking in the background, Smooth, polished but not excessively so, this offers up a palate that combines fresh red fruitiness with the encroaching bronze edges of age, bringing in fine tea, spice and herb notes that lend detail to what is a modestly supple palate impression that turns firmer and more dried herbal on the long finish. A complex and classic wine offering the most complex palate of the day, but with the benefit of age. Texturally this is in a fine spot as well, still firm but with the eased edges of aged tannins, though it does show a suggestion of heat on the finale. Ready to go perhaps just a touch softer than I would prefer. 89pts
2015 Campi Nuovi Montecucco Sangiovese
Finely focused on the nose with wood spice lending this a certain cohesiveness. It’s quite nutmeg/cinnamony scented and the spice obscures the fruit at the moment though I get the impression that it will integrate nicely. Elegant in the mouth, very refined, again quite oaky but there's a pleasant lightness to this wine. Its more oak than i would prefer but the coffee and cream character it imparts is not offensive, clean, taut, lovely purity on the long finish, a wine with finesse, fruit flavor has a touch of a stewy edge though its more lingonberry and red cherry gaminess than black fruit. A fair bit of wood tannin to resolve, 88pts
2014 Collemassari Montecucco Riserva
Nutty oak and a touch of forest floor greets the nose, along with notes of prune and vanilla. Taut and linear in the mouth with just enough flesh to cover the structure leaving this with a racy feel, finely balanced, good length, certainly marked by the vintage, but considering that, quite a success. It’s gentle and elegant, with good depth to the dried orange rind, lingonberry and tart wild raspberry flavors that drive the long, very sapid, acid driven finish, i would drink this and it even seems to have pretty good potential for further development, lovely the ripeness to this fruit, just barely fully ripe. 88pts
2016 Poggio L’apparita San Gio Rosso Toscana
Smoky, with lots of leafy decomp lending complexity, perhaps this is advanced but it is fragrant and complex, there's a touch of oak, lovely fennel seed spiciness, a hint of white pepper and lovely red cherry wild berry fruit, with a vaguely medicinal mineral edge. Lovely in the mouth, with a shading of cocoa powder. Bright juicy vivid wine with aggressive if not rich fruit tannins, the tannins seems a touch outsized considering the evolution present but this is fun if rustic to drink today and might surprise on the upside with 3 years in the bottle. worth watching out for, 87pts
2015 Prato al Pozzo Arpagone Montecucco
A rather earthy early nose yields to a finely focused core of minty, herbal, dark almost plummy fruit. Elegant and with real finesse this is a wine with presence, it’s finely balanced with wonderfully ripe tannins and good juicy acidity but its a touch clumsy on the backend and never really expresses well defined flavors, its rich, dark, solid and probably can be described as sexy but it leaves me a bit cold. A wine of mass and texture and impressive as such but without much to really seduce one, though the finish is very long. 87pts
Good
2013 Perazzeta Licurgo Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Damp old or large format wood greets the nose followed by chalky earth and white paper laced dried cherry fruit. Complex and old school, Bright, edges really defined by acids, this has an overall bronzy and slightly blowsy feel to it with flavors that show a certain level of development. It’s relatively light on the palate and strikes me as rustic if in a pleasant way, finishing with a powerful acid wash to the palate and light wild raspberry fruit. Complex and interesting but lacks just a bit of hedonistic pleasure. 86pts
2016 Salustri Montecucco Rosso
Smoky oak, intense, with dark fruit, some mineral soil tones but overtly oaky at the moment. Sweetness from oak and spice compete with the sweet fruit here, it’s pleasant if a bit coarse from the wood at this stage, just a little minty but this is bright and juicy and long even if the oak intrudes a bit there is fine persistence to the fruit, 86pts
2015 Parmoleto Montecucco Rosso
Pencil shavings, a touch of black olive, smells a bit like Bordeaux, earthy, interesting but atypical. Bright and juicy on entry with good cut, there's a playfulness to the plate, it’s transparent and fairly light even if the fruit is verging towards dark berry flavors with wood tannin and spice entering the back end of the palate. The tannins are notably drying and this seems like a fine little wine that is too tannic. 84pts
2012 Poggio Mandorlo La Querce Montecucco Sangiovese
Sour on the nose with distinct notes of canned corn clouding the nose, which otherwise seems to rely on spicy red cherry fruit with a hint of dried orange peel. The corn tends to blow off but the canned sulfur note lingers. Fluid on the palate, super well balanced with a sculpted feel, there's that canned corn note though, not quite obscured by the macerated flavors of dark cherry and dried fruits that disappear in a flash on the long if dry and tannic finish. There is promise here and even as the glass sits this improves, but it does turn fairly tannic and doesn’t seem to have enough fruit to outlast the tannins, Its ambitious, without a doubt and might get someplace attractive, though I’m not sure I see it getting there, and I’m not sure what happens to the Dimethyl Sulfide 84pts
2015 Otto Ettari Montecucco Rosso
Floral and sweet on the nose with a hint of older or larger barrel lending just a touch of complexity. Glycerin rich, this is supple, a mouthfeel wine with fruit flavors that tend to the over-ripe and jammy if notably red side of the spectrum though with citrus accents. A bit flat, certainly short, serviceable but the floral notes on the nose certainly are attractive. It’s clean and grows on you as the fruit tannins lend their grip, just a bit flat on the mid palate. 84pts
Acceptable
2016 Villa Patrizia Istrico Montecucco Sangiovese
Sweet on the nose with lots of fruit and some stainless steel, mineral qualities, a bit animale on the palate with darker mulberry toned fruit, A touch soft in the mouth, decent acids, shows a touch advanced, simple with little follow through though this has a brisk and mineral feel on the finale. 83pts
2016 Montenero Montecucco Rosso
Tight, reticent, sweet, dark, slightly anonymous fruit attractive but non distinct,. Light and elegant in the mouth, much lighter than the nose might suggest, juicy fruit, lovely if simple on the palate, a bit chewy later on the palate, and yet there is something a bit stewy here, that clips the finish and leaves the mouth sticky and filmy, 82pts
2015 Podere Montale Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Shows some high end wood on the nose supported by dark plummy fruit and rich moist earth aromas. Pleasant in the mouth if a touch sweet perhaps, this lacks a certain tension on the palate, feeling rather languid with dry tannins that easily surmount the levels of fruit available, chewy and dry on the finish, tough gong, though there is a core of attractive fruit here. 82pts
2015 Vegni e Medaglini D'Addabbo Montecucco Sangiovese
Coffee grinds and braised meats greet the nose followed by spicy red berry fruit, Oddly combining stewy flavors in the mouth with a bright, lively nature, not sure how one gets here but while it feels good the weight and darkness of the flavors are not really appealing, finish is astringent and almost bitter, a tough wine to like. 80pts
2015 Poggio Stenti Tribolo Montecucco Rosso
A bit stewy on the nose, lots of braised veggies and leafy greens, and chalky,. It’s complex but quite ripe and seemingly very long maceration, another wine that shows better in the mouth but this is a bit fresh, but over extracted tannins lend this a bad tea character, mineral flavors, and a touch of b bitterness, trying too hard. 80pts
Not recommended
2013 Poggio al Gello Rosso del Gello Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Dark on the nose with dirty barrel, dark blackberry and black cherry fruit, damp cigar tobacco and mushroomy earth aromas; powerful aromas. On the palate this is matte, has no real structural definition, is opaque on the palate, smooth, rich, an ovoid gem that slides across the palate like a ghost leaving a minty impression of oaky bitterness behind. It’s not really as bad as it sounds but it is the most anonymous of the wines tasted today; over extracted, chewy, tannic, and austere, one can hope that age might treat this with some kindness, today while it is not undrinkable it is tough going, 78pts
2015 Casale Pozzuolo Rosso della Porticcia Montecucco Sangiovese
Tight and a touch of matchstick on the nose, wouldn’t be surprised if this was bottled recently, softly oaky on the nose but shows mostly oak, in the mouth this is a bit soupy, not well put together, dry with harsh wood tannins and raw wood on the palate, ending hot. 77pts
2013 Basile Ad Agio Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Another victim of the canned corn, oaky, ashen, sweetly spicy, vulgar on the nose, This is intense and complex with virtually nothing I want to smell in my wine, Smooth and polished in the mouth, plenty of canned corn, nicely balanced though with a supple yet taut feel that is expertly achieved through glycerine acid balance. Contrived, feels assembled and finishes with an innate harshness. This should enjoy good commercial success; I don’t want to drink it. 76pts
2015 Poderi Firenze SottoCase Sangiovese Montecucco
Smoky a touch of rubbery reduction, which grows to be distracting, fluid in the mouth, a bit loose, nicely flavored if a bit evolved. Nice if modest finish combines a mineral edge with jammy dark fruit, though not well knit. Might recover but for now 75pts