Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Anteprima 2020
2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Anteprima
2017 Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Nero
24 months in 33HL Slavonian oak casks
A touch tired on the nose with lots of clay, old wood, and sweet coffee aromas. Over slightly minty dried cherry fruit. Bright, very juicy in the mouth, showing fine complexity, the fruit is a little pruney and the tannins sort of wiry, though this carried heavy clay, blue flower, and roasted caramel notes through the moderately long finish. A touch of heat perhaps and a slight feeling of thinness, cooked out fruit on the mid palate leaves this feeling a little less generous than the structure might demand. 87
2017 Il Molinaccio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano La Spinosa
100% Sangiovese
12 months in barrique
Clay, gentle oak, and reticent black fruit aromas on the nose. Smooth, well integrated, good acidity, small, fine grained tannins. Fairly elegant with very clear red fruit, earth, and gentle oak notes on the nse. Rather youthful and a bit tight, this is well balanced and focused with good length, purity and drive on the palate. Clean, fresh, not super complex but vibrant and elegant. 91
2017 La Breccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sangiovese and Merlot
Aged in large barrels
Quite oaky on the nose, not quite obscuring but it is dominant with hints of blue flowers and dark fruit seeping through the staves. Fairly opulent, a bit dry and tannic up front, and a bit matte, with enough wood tannin to be distracting and clipping the finish. Still this has some underlying material that is fresh if a bit plump, with some smoky mineral details and a core of black cherry fruit. Ultimately lacks a bit of balance and comes off as leaning modern and a bit chunky. A powerful style though. 88
2017 Cantina Chiacchiera Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Sangiovese, 10% a blend of Canaiolo, Mammolo, and Ciliegiolo
18 months in 7.5-10HL barrels.
Perhaps not perfectly clean on the nose but still quite fragrant with hints of older oak gracing the nose along with nuanced earth and tobacco Fine tannin lend this a dash of austerity with gorgeous detailed lightly gamy black cherry fruit on the palate and a long, finish that shows the deft balance of the juicy acids and ripe tannins here. Classic Montepulciano in a slightly rustic style but this delivers everything I’m looking for. Lovely, transparent, high toned stuff. 93
2017 De’ Ricci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Aged in tonneaux and large barrel
Fairly oaky on the nose, though this is not terribly oaky, it just lacks a little aromatic intensity to help absorb the oak. Rather floral with faint red fruit. This does have a pleasant spiciness/ wild berry fruit note on the nose. A touch diffuses on entry, and while this fans out nicely on the palate, it does lack a bit of tension in the mouth. Easy going, pleasant, if short and ultimately a bit simple. 86
2017 Antico Colle Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot
24 months in small and medium cask of Slavonian oak
Moderately oakty and a bit leathery on the nose with complicating notes of ginseng and almost dusty parchment. Smooth, rich, and a bit matte in the mouth, delivers a load of anonymous dark fruit, in a sleek and very polished style. A bit bitter on the relatively long though matte finish. Too extracted, has sleek weight but lacks detail Should improve with another year or three in bottle but this will never be elegant. 86
2017 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
85% Prugnolo Gentile, 15% Canaiolo, Colorino, and Mammolo
Aged up to 24 months in Allier and Slavonian oak casks with a capacity between 350 and 2000 liters
Very fruity and fresh on the nose, good intensity and lovely green herb, black tea, gummy, slightly gray, wild berry fruit. Very fragrant and attractive. A touch chewy in the mouth, though with a very pure, fresh, and moderately bright palate full of slightly earthy red and wild berry fruit. This is delicious, moderately structured, almost open for business with a decent finish showing off a burnished wood tone and ripe, pliant tannins. A fruit driven style that retains some Tuscan reserve. 92
2017 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Mostly Sangiovese
Aged 24 months, 90% in large oak, and 10% in barrique and tonneaux
Dark, stewed meats and savory with hints of salted capers, black olive, and black currant fruit. Elegant, finely textured, almost silky though with flavors that are slightly muddy, plummy and gamy. Very fine tannins lead to a fairly ethereal finish, and while this is easy to drink and delivers plenty of fruit its a bit boring with tannins building and clipping the dark, coffee and leather toned finish. 86
2017 Podere Casanova Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
97% Prugnolo Gentile
Unspecified ageing regiment
Very fruity with some spicy porcini and forest floral accent notes. Quite plummy and darkly fruited with lots of black spices, leaning towards coffee bean and licorice and a vanilla base note. Moderately juicy on entry, there's plenty of wild berry, almost boysenberry fruit here in a rather exotic vein with a rather elegant feel across the midpalate turning a bit darker and drier on the backend. Firm, stony and rather severe in the mouth. This is quite a serious wine, perhaps too serious, though you can’t deny the depth, richness, and balance here. Very ageworthy and better in 2-3 years. I wouldn’t buy it but it makes quite a statement. 92
2017 Icario Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangiovse, 5% Colorino
Aged 30 months in large cask and tonneaux
Gamy, leathery and black fruited on the nose with a fine spicy dried gingery cigar box note of oak. Smooth, supple though low across the palate and a bit heavy. Chewy, pleasantly so, but dark anonymous and finishing with extracted tea like tannins that are out of proportion here. Lacks depth and balance 83
2017 Fattoria della Talosa Alboretto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Sangiovese
Aged for 24 months in a blend of 2nd, 3rd, and th passage tonneaux, large barrels and stainless steel
Lots of oak and an over-ripe pruny character on the nose with hints of oxidation. Lots Of licorice candy on the nose. Cooked out and a bit hollow in the mouth. There's some pleasant wild cherry fruit here, and a suggestion of spicy herbs, but this is laden with dry tannin, chewy, and too ristic. 82
2017 Gattavecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangioves, 5% Colorino
24 months in slavonian oak casks followed by a passage in French oak
Cafe au lait and intelligently used fancy oak on the nose layered over a rather complex mineral, floral and slightly leather dark fruit nose. A touch lean, then gently austere on the palate, perhaps lacking a bit of depth, and certainly short, this nonetheless has lovely faceted fruit lurking at its core. Very likely to improve in the bottle though not to be terribly long lived, I can see this revealing complex, well balanced fruit in a rather sleek and moderately rich style after another year or 2 of bottle age. Tough to rate today but call it an 88 lending it a point or two for potential 88
2017 Lombardo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Matured 50% in barrique and tonneuax and 50% in botte between 20- 40HL
Dank, dark aroma of brewed coffee, damp cigar butt, and almost medicinal spice. Fairly well balanced in the mouth on the lean, more elegant side with a much fresher impression in the mouth. The tannins are a bit extracted though with some wood tannin lending an excessively dry note to the finish. In fact the tannins in general are outsized here lending this a clumsy, stern demeanor. This needs age but it may not necessarily get any better. Leathery and traditional. 83
2017 Le Berne Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Sangiovese
Aged 60% in Slavonian oak, and 40% in barrique
A bit cedary and creamy on the nose with nicely detailed small, dark, wild berry fruits balanced by oak spices. Elegant and quite clear on the palate there's lovely fruit here, in a slightly modern style, but this, while slightly small scaled, shows off lovely purity, depth and transparency, though wood tannins do build across the palate. Fruit shows a gentle blueberry cast. A bit too tannic but what is here is delicious and lithe should the tannin resolve, and I think it mostly will within 2 years or so. 90
2017 Fattoria Svetoni Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Prungolo Gentile, 5% Colorino
Aged 24 months, 70% in Slavonian botte, and 30% in French oak
Sour, salty plummy fruit touch of VA with incipient mushroom and macerated floral aromas. A bit diffuse on the palate, moderately large scaled, slightly chewy but indistinct and a bit muddy on the palate. Modest finish, shows good juiciness and lovely tannins but the fruit here lacks some detail. 85
2017 Podere Casa al Vento Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Sangiovese
Aged 2 years in oak
Reticent though iron, menthol, medicinal, and slight hints of ragu can be coaxed from the glass. Smooth, almost seamless, with an earthy cast to the palate. The tannins here are a bit bristly, but fresh with decent acidity leading to a moderately long and very lively finish. Not fruit driven, though complex and savory in the mouth, with a fine blend of elegance and power. Marginally rustic, but rich, powerful and focused in style. The finish here really grabs your attention with its energy. 93
2017 Polizano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
85% Prugnolo Gentile15% Colorino, Canaiolo, and Merlot
Aged for 14-16 months 2/3s in French barrique and tonneuax, the remainder in botte.
Hot iron, violet, stone, and crushed purple and black fruit greets the nose. A touch low in the mouth, a bit soft but with a nice kernel of rich, dark, slightly chewy fruit. A fun style that is not facile. This is all about the fruit, it’s pretty well presented with a fine, dusty, clay driven finish. Uncomplicated but certainly inviting. 90
2017 Tenuta Trerose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Santa Caterina
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Aged in a mix of 10HL casks and 30-40HL barrels
A bit dank and nutty old wood greets the nose followed by high toned aromas of black fruit, cedar, and leather. Smooth, supple, broad and a bit fleshy in the mouth though retaining decent transparency. A middle of the road rendition that feels a bit commercial- low risk, but is pleasant and not overdone. Fruity, pleasant, properly proportioned but lacking some oomph and definition. 88
2017 Tenuta Valdipiatta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sangiovese and canaiolo Nero
Aged for 6 months in barrique followed by 12 months in Slavonian botte
Candy coffee notes greet the nose followed by blue flowers and some hightoned sandy soil notes lots of meaty, fleshy, cherry fruit. With a rusty top note. Fluid in the mouth, lacks some tension but has a nice fleshy feel with excellently judged acids. There's lots of cherry wild berry fruit here, and a graceful note of austerity lending this some gravitas. The backend leads with deep minerality which gains some wood ageing inflections on the modest finish. Trying very hard but lacks some intensity and detail. Still it’s quite complex and nuanced. Seems just a bit washed out. 88
2017 Romeo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% mammolo, 5% Colorino
Aged for 6-12 months, 80% in French oak barrels of 25-35HL, 20% in 500 liter tonneaux
Quite oaky on the nose, not quite new but raw with minty, resiny highlights layered over dark, murky medicinal cooked fruit. Small scaled in ehth mouth, with some freshness and attractive fruit flvors but this is laden with tannins, extracted, short, and simple. 82
2017 Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangiovese, 5% canaiolo and Merlot
Aged 18 months, 25% in 500 liter tonneaux and 75% in French and Slavonian oak of 26 and 50 HL
Light and fresh on the nose with notes of powdered ginger and mace framing a fine core of slightly leathery black fruit. Polished in the mouth, a touch slender but very fine with a nuanced feel. There’s a delicacy to this which is attractive but risks getting lost in this setting. Not the most complex, but the cherry fruit is quite pure and natural tasting with nuance and detail. A hair dilute perhaps but very pleasant and elegant. 90
2017 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Redi
More than a little VA, over-ripe and indistinct on the nose, with some older oak accents and some leathery undertones. A bit soft, and a bit chewy, there is a sense of dry extract here, but the tannins are well judged. Not much depth to the mulberry tinged austere dark fruit. A dry, short finish wraps things up. Austere, sleek, a bit too dry, and lacking some depth but making up for it with its tactile impression on the palate. 86
2017 Matinella Burberoso Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% Canailolo, 5% Mammolo
Aged 18 mnths in 25 and 50HL botte
Cookies and creme on the nose followed by more mocha and ground coffee character, some dark fruit and spicy, dusty soil tones. Rounded but not fleshy with good acidity keeping things lively. A smaller scaled subtle example of Vino Nobile but one that checks all the boxes. Perhaps the aromatics lack some overt fruitiness but the palate is sleek, subtle, and offers a fine blend of earthy, older oak influence and compact berry flavors. And the finish is lovely with well balanced fruit tannins lending the right note of austerity and allowing the soil toned and lightly floral, almost citrusy finish to emerge. 90
2017 Le Bertille Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo and Colorino
Aged for 12 months in 25HL Slavonian botte, followed by 12months in 35-50HL Slavonian botte
Aromas of hot iron, gingerbread, and dark, slightly confected coffee toned fruit emerges on the nose. Odd in the mouth, almost silky and delicate though with flavors and intensity that would suggest a bigger scaled wine. This feels a bit stripped, it's pleasant, clean, and pure in the mouth with a rather refreshing feel but lacks some flavor intensity and freshness to the fruit, still not bad with a slightly minty and fruitier finale. The minor fruit has a candied feel. Tannic and tart and too structured for the level of fruit here. 87
2017 La Ciarlina Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% Mammolo
Aged for 18 months in Slavonian botte
Very vinous, earthy ,and deep on the nose with big fruit, big leathery notes, and a fine underlay of wood influence. Fairly big and slightly chewy in the mouth, there's lots of wild berry fruit but this is not soft, it’s moderately tannic but the tannins are well judged and the acidity keeps this very fresh and lively. Fruity, a bit chewy, slightly rustic but is a lusty, gutsy way. It is far from a subtle wine but is a house party in your mouth. Needs another year or two to help soften the tannins but this is high octane fun. 92
2017 La Combarbia Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Aged for 18 months in 30 HL barrels
Lots of vanilla and sweet cocoa notes grace the nose. The fruit is pruny and very ripe. A touch diffuses in the mouth, with truffle notes gracing the simple and low intensity core of plummy fruit. Simple, a bit clumsy and short, There’s some nice bricky tones in the mouth, but this is mostly about the modest core of fruit and over extracted tannins. 82
2017 Fanetti Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
80% Prugnolo Gentile, 15% Canaiolo, 5% mammolo
Aged for 36 months in Slavonian botte
Dark, graced with aromas of old wood, leather, and slightly dirty if not off-putting notes. Spicy, showing some olive tinged notes to the fruit, intense and complex if a bit glossy and modern. Seamless, not nuanced but sleek and fairly elegant in the mouth. There’s alot to unwind here, and the fruit is well supported by earthy wood and spice tones. A wine that demands some bottle age but does finish with lovely tannins and a real flourish of fruit. This could be a knockout with another 2 years in bottle, though there is a suggestion of brett here. Still packed with potential. So long and deep. 93
2017 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Motsly Prugnolo Gentile
Aged for 18 months in lare oak barrels
Candied though rather red fruited on the nose, with lovely spicy accents of arugula, flowers, medicinal herbs and a touch of molasses. Smells absolutely terrific. Youthful, very vinous, very natural and pure feeling with a graceful elegance. Flavors are quite fruity but at the same time show great nuances with floral and herbal complexity. A touch short, but the flavors here are perhaps my favorite of the day. It’s not complex or terribly long but this does come off as the purest presentation of fruit and is well balanced and fairly classically styled without being rustic. Happy face. 90
2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
2017 Tenuta Valdipiatta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Vigneto d’Alfiero
Some older oak greets the nose along with rather fresh lingonberry, iron, and clay aromas. A touch loose in the mouth, quite mineral with faint wild berry fruit. Open knit but lacking a bit of tension in the mouth and turning a bit clay toned and chewy on the moderately long backend. Could use a bit more fruit, but it is rather finely textured and elegant. A bit nutty on the finish. 87
2017 Lunadoro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Pagliareto
Moderately oaky on the nose, toasty and with some candied redhots/cinnamon highlights then showing some latex and lots of sour fruits and almost peppery, exotic middle eastern spice notes. Supple, deep, fairly vinous and rich if lacking a little tension in the mouth, Still this delivers profound fruit with excellent transparency and firms up on the long, elegant, mineral and fruit driven finish that shows terrific additional potential for development. Exciting bold yet well-crafted wine. 94
2017 Bindella Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione I quadri
Iron, floral and fairly sweet, candied wild berry fruits on the nose. Juicy, deep and vinous on the palate with lots of wild berry fruit and floral inner mouth perfumes. A bit chunky in the mouth with chewy tannins that are outsized for the wine. Fruity and rustic, not without its appeal though it is a bit of a slog right now. 84
2017 Gattavechi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Pareto
Darka and decisively fruity with dank candied coffee accents lending some complexity. Rather spicy and a bit fleshy with a hint of candied watermelon rind. Smooth, supple, moderately rich wine that has a bit of a cooked feel to the flavors. Lacks detail and freshness. Loose in the mouth and quite short. Dark but underwhelming. 83
2016 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
2016 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Tight with vague suggestions of leather, forest floor, and dried herbs on the nose, along with attractive, nuanced nutty oak tones. Rich, supple, slightly relaxed in the mouth but delivering plenty of richness and depth. Elegant in a soft way with a pillowy core of leathery dark fruit wrapped in gentle soil and wood sice notes. Very finely textured and deep though lacking some precision and nuance. Still quite satisfying. 90
2016 Bindella Vallocaia Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
A bit cedary, vanilla, and sweetly wood spiced aromas frame the core of dark, earthy wild berry fruit. Sleek, smaller scaled but finely textured wine. There's pleasant fruit here, detailed and faceted but this lacks a bit of intensity and length Still love the flavors and surprisingly the oak on the nose is quite subtle on the palate. Austere and small scale. A minor classic. 87
2016 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Menthol, old wood, and mushroomy on the nose. With lots of iron character. Diffuse in the mouth, just not much here with alittle chew up front and some innocuous tart fruit that fades away on the ethereal fish. Quite closed. JR
2016 Il Molinaccio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva La Poiana
A bit sweet on the nose with a certain braised meatiness to the core of dark wild strawberry and slightly oxidized coffee tinged plummy fruit. Smooth and rich, deep and fairly vinous, there's a lot to like here, it's almost velvety, deep, powerful and delivers lots of dark cherry and plummy fruit with wonderfully ripe tannins and a gentle wash of acidity across the long finish which lacks just a little juiciness making this somewhat chewy. A touch flat in the mouth but no doubt a powerful crowd pleaser. 92
2016 La Braccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Vigneto Sante Pia
Dark, low, ripe black fruits on the nose. Not much intensity here nor brightness. A bit flat in the mouth as well. A fair amount of substance,and some deep cherry fruit with surprising acidity in the mouth though this remains chewy and dull, but there is a certain intensity to the fruit which could be attractive. But it’s so over wrought and clumsy 82
2016 Fanbetti Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Aromas of toasty, cedary, nutty oak greet the nose well supported by nuanced, slightly plummy wild berry fruit with fine green herb and Indian spiced framing notes. Rich, polished, a touch heavy and certainly dense. This lacks a center and has odd green vegetal flavors in the mouth. Short, austere, cut from a tough cloth. Smells good but no joy to be found here. 80
2016 Le Bertille Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Bright complex green anise seed, slight celery seed tinged aromatics are rather fresh and attractive Fruity, a touch easy going but with nuanced clay, blue flower, and earthy spice flavors that spread out nicely on the palate. It’s austere and noble, how I remember these wines being 30 years ago with decent length. A bit of a relic, but I like it. 89
2016 Lombardo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
A touch oxidized herbs with a chestnutty cast to the dried grass and herb wrapped core of leather sour cherry fruit. A bit of artichoke emerges on the nose. A touch dried out in the mouth, with some subtle chew, a nice blend of simple fruit and a fine herbal artichoke aspect to the flavor profile. A small wine a bit austere, though with decent follow through on the palate. 87
2016 Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Candied ginger, ginseng, and lots of mediterranean herbs greet the nose. Fairly large but also light on its feet, there's a laciness here to the palate that is very attractive and flavors which are not super intense but are pure and elegant. All cherry and herb toned with floral, leather, and soil highlights. Finishes with length, good tension, and excellently judged noble tannins. Very fine blend of sinewy power and elegance with a hair too much oak on the nose but that should resolve itself within the year. Compelling stuff, though the oak is just a hair too evident. 93
2016 Tenuta Trerose Simposio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
A bit black peppery and spicy on the nose with notes of hot iron, fresh flower, sliced fruit, very fresh smelling with a lovely suggestion of green herb/arugula lending freshnes. Fresh and vibrant in the mouth, this is a lacy feather, just a joy to drink. Not powerful at all, it is resigned to being elegant and seductive with a racy character. Would like to see a little more length here. All nuance and head faints, this is a terrific interpretation of Vino Nobile. Playful and delicious. 91
2016 Podere Casa al Vento Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Fairly intense fruit with darker, quite ripe fruit, leather, and roasted nutty aroma. Smooth and rich, rather broad shouldered with decidedly black and almost sweet fruit that remains quite vinous in the mouth. There's toomuch tannin here but this has terrific depth of flavor and while the profile is quite ripe it doesn’t cross the line into over-ripeness. Very well balanced, sinewy power, nuance, this should age well and has everything in terrific balance. Wow, thats some intense black fruit with terrific inner mouth perfume on the finish. 94
2016 Le Colombaria Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Dark and leathery with hints of clay and mediterranean herbs. A touch diffuse in the mouth and lacking some fruit with dried out and volatile flavors of herbs, clay, and something vaguely vegetal and off putting on the palate. Rustic. 77
2016 Le Berne Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Tight on the nose, with nutty aromas and hints of green herbs. Smooth, broad and rich in the mouth. Feels quite tight but with good potential, lacks a bit of detail and nuance but marries rich ripe fruit with decent clarity to wood in an intelligent way that does not obscure the clay base notes. A bit on the soft side but rich with nuanced clay, floral, and blue fruit flavors. 91
2016 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
At times quite ripe on the nose then melony and green with nettle tones. A touch small scaled, raw and low in the mouth with those weird vegetal notes some of these wines seem to have. Lots of clay and chalky soil here but the fruit is thin and doesn’t cover the moedest structure. Angular, feels a bit baked, dry on the finish. Rustic not unpleasant but not interesting. 83
2016 Icario Vitaroccia Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Hot rocks and jammy black fruit aromas pop on the nose followed by hints of bay leaf, leather, and very subtle oak influence. A bit loose in the mouth, easy going, carries a pleasant load of well rendered fruit, though a bit innocuous in general with a pleasant finish that showcases decent acids and ripe tannins. A bit atypical and with almost an international cast to the wine, though not unpleasant 87
2016 Fassati Salarco Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Latex and smoke on the nose along with spicy, creamy oak and dark jammy mincemeat pie, and orange marmalade notes. Slick, polished, detailess mass on the palate. International, anonymous wine with some fruit hidden within its black hole of a soul. Impressive with some pleasant hints of fruit but not likeable. 83
2016 Vino Nobile di Montalcino
2016 Az. Agr. Tiberini Podere le Caggiole Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Smells of leather, moss, and bricks, with black fruit lurking in the background. Fluid in the mouth, light and linear with lovely red fruit and lots of herbal nuance. Refreshing on the palate with just the right hint of chew to lend the palate some substance without adding excessive weight or obscuring any detail. Easy to drink yet fairly complex with great late arriving inner mouth perfumes. Oh this is lovely, what I would buy. 92
2016 Montemercurio Messaggero Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Quite ripe and nutty on the nose, dark with jammy undertones and a shoe polish top note. Runded, almost plush in the mouth with fine floral character and small dark fruits arriving early on the palate followed by a light sheen of oak spice and some black currant flavors. A bit of a sleek wine, Lacking some detail but well done in its slightly extracted polished style. 89
2016 Croce di Febo Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Spicy, lots of candied cinnamon tones total red hots nose with a bit of underlying latex and a tomato ragu top note, Smooth, seamless, polished yet retaining a certain sense of elegance though the flavors are an odd blend of weedy and black fruited with oversteeped tea tannins and a chewy, modest finish. Still this has plenty of fruit and could improve with age. So smooth people should love this. 84
2016 Cantina del Giusto San Claudio II Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Vanilla and nutty oak greets the nose followed by jammy black cherry and black currant fruit. Rather bright and faceted in the mouth, with fine nuanced dried herb notes helping to frame the very pretty fruit here. This is lovely, so pure and fresh and precise with fruit that persists on the long finish. Certainly a middle weight example, and fairly light but so pure with pitch perfect fruit, and great floral notes that linger on the finish. Love this, it gains soil toned and additional blue floral complexity with time. 93
2016 Godiolo Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Aromas of sour fruits are light on the nose wrapped up in a touch of oak and some dried spice tones. Smooth and generous in the mouth, there's a fair amount of jammy, dark, and slightly anonymous fruit here. Silky if a touch matte, this is fairly powerful and deep with decently fresh fruit and very attractive spice and herb accents. A bit sophisticated by lacking a certain liveliness on the palate. Attractive if a bit four square. 88
2016 Villa S. Anna Vino Nobile di Montalcino
A touch dull on the nose, perhaps just a shade oxidized as well with earthy, herbal, cough syrup aromas. Lively on entry yet a bit flat with herbal flavors. Minor fruit, a bit loose, modest finish feels a bit over-extracted. 80
2016 Il Macchione Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Lovely fruit, slightly jammy and perhaps vanilla streaked on the nose with a subtle carob accent note. Soft, supple wine with pleasant red fruit, a bit of carobby and earthy complexity, and a fairy fruity finish. It's a bit lean and raw, rustic but suitable for current consumption. A safe restaurant bet. 86
2016 Manvi Arya Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Caramel, jammy black fruits, and licorice aromas greet the nose. Fairly large scaled, a bit chewy, deep if a bit too extracted with chewy flavors of plummy black berried fruit and herbs but then the tannins clamp down a bit on the finish. Then this curiously dissipates on the palate. Lots of dry extract, and fruit tannins but this manages to dissolve on the palate somehow. Not much detail but pleasant enough with a nice green fennel seed note on the finale. 87
2016 La Ciarlina Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Rather pungent aroma of macerated herbs, cough medicine, and dried herbs greet the nose. Smooth, broad, and powerful but lacking detail in the mouth though this does have a core of extracted, dark and rich fruit. Clumsy, intense and could improve with time but right now this is so extracted feeling it's tough to get through, long, with good purity to the black cherry fruit Built for the very long haul. 90
2016 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
2016 Croce di Febo Selezione Amore Mio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
Very floral, a big bouquet of floral scents that have a certain sweetness to them, then arrive complicating notes of cinnamon, super ripe wild berry fruits, and a hint of aperol. Elegant and fine, silky if slightly austere, this is terrific in the mouth combining a certain degree of power with old viney depth on the palate. Great cut in the mouth and purty to the fruit which lingers on the very well balanced finish. Lacks just a nuance of detail but really comes together quite well. 94
2016 De’ Ricci Selezione SorAldo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
Meaty on the nose with a hint of latex to the chestnutty and floral fruit. A bit loose in the mouth, has a certain complexity built on herbs and red fruit, but this lacks a little freshness and feels dried out and a bit thin on the modest finish. 83
2016 Canneto Selezione Cascina di Doro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
Candied, smoky, and even flinty on the nose with charry, herbal character. A little chewy in the mouth, rugged with dark, earthy fruit that fades rather quickly on the finish. Short, but pleasant and red fruited with a bit of bricky spice. Simple, uncomplicated, 83
2016 Lunadoro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Gran Pagliareto
Red fruited, even a touch of rosehips here with nuanced floral character over hints of hickory and spice. A bit fluid and clear on the palate with slightly muddy red fruit flavors. This is chewy and perhaps a touch too extracted with muted flavors and a gently spicy character. 86
2016 Fassati Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Gersemi
Downright exotic on the nose with intensely floral aromas, wild black berry fruits and a rather obvious oak overlay. Nothing subtle here. Rich, bold, and polished in the mouth with great herbal and floral aromatics in the mouth supporting mulberry and blackberry fruit. Very modern if not shiny with terrific intensity that just pulls back from being excessive, allowing the noble tannins and decent acidity to emerge on the fairly long finish Just a little slick but still very Tuscan 92
2016 Matinella Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione 142.2
Gently floral with a subtle meaty undertone accented decidedly red fruits. Supple, a bit easy going, decent depth with bricky red fruit, a little chewy, and with a gently austere nature. Not a lot going on though this does show a bit more intensity on the long, bricky, and dried herb dried cherry toned finish. 87
2017 Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Nero
24 months in 33HL Slavonian oak casks
A touch tired on the nose with lots of clay, old wood, and sweet coffee aromas. Over slightly minty dried cherry fruit. Bright, very juicy in the mouth, showing fine complexity, the fruit is a little pruney and the tannins sort of wiry, though this carried heavy clay, blue flower, and roasted caramel notes through the moderately long finish. A touch of heat perhaps and a slight feeling of thinness, cooked out fruit on the mid palate leaves this feeling a little less generous than the structure might demand. 87
2017 Il Molinaccio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano La Spinosa
100% Sangiovese
12 months in barrique
Clay, gentle oak, and reticent black fruit aromas on the nose. Smooth, well integrated, good acidity, small, fine grained tannins. Fairly elegant with very clear red fruit, earth, and gentle oak notes on the nse. Rather youthful and a bit tight, this is well balanced and focused with good length, purity and drive on the palate. Clean, fresh, not super complex but vibrant and elegant. 91
2017 La Breccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sangiovese and Merlot
Aged in large barrels
Quite oaky on the nose, not quite obscuring but it is dominant with hints of blue flowers and dark fruit seeping through the staves. Fairly opulent, a bit dry and tannic up front, and a bit matte, with enough wood tannin to be distracting and clipping the finish. Still this has some underlying material that is fresh if a bit plump, with some smoky mineral details and a core of black cherry fruit. Ultimately lacks a bit of balance and comes off as leaning modern and a bit chunky. A powerful style though. 88
2017 Cantina Chiacchiera Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Sangiovese, 10% a blend of Canaiolo, Mammolo, and Ciliegiolo
18 months in 7.5-10HL barrels.
Perhaps not perfectly clean on the nose but still quite fragrant with hints of older oak gracing the nose along with nuanced earth and tobacco Fine tannin lend this a dash of austerity with gorgeous detailed lightly gamy black cherry fruit on the palate and a long, finish that shows the deft balance of the juicy acids and ripe tannins here. Classic Montepulciano in a slightly rustic style but this delivers everything I’m looking for. Lovely, transparent, high toned stuff. 93
2017 De’ Ricci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Aged in tonneaux and large barrel
Fairly oaky on the nose, though this is not terribly oaky, it just lacks a little aromatic intensity to help absorb the oak. Rather floral with faint red fruit. This does have a pleasant spiciness/ wild berry fruit note on the nose. A touch diffuses on entry, and while this fans out nicely on the palate, it does lack a bit of tension in the mouth. Easy going, pleasant, if short and ultimately a bit simple. 86
2017 Antico Colle Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot
24 months in small and medium cask of Slavonian oak
Moderately oakty and a bit leathery on the nose with complicating notes of ginseng and almost dusty parchment. Smooth, rich, and a bit matte in the mouth, delivers a load of anonymous dark fruit, in a sleek and very polished style. A bit bitter on the relatively long though matte finish. Too extracted, has sleek weight but lacks detail Should improve with another year or three in bottle but this will never be elegant. 86
2017 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
85% Prugnolo Gentile, 15% Canaiolo, Colorino, and Mammolo
Aged up to 24 months in Allier and Slavonian oak casks with a capacity between 350 and 2000 liters
Very fruity and fresh on the nose, good intensity and lovely green herb, black tea, gummy, slightly gray, wild berry fruit. Very fragrant and attractive. A touch chewy in the mouth, though with a very pure, fresh, and moderately bright palate full of slightly earthy red and wild berry fruit. This is delicious, moderately structured, almost open for business with a decent finish showing off a burnished wood tone and ripe, pliant tannins. A fruit driven style that retains some Tuscan reserve. 92
2017 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Mostly Sangiovese
Aged 24 months, 90% in large oak, and 10% in barrique and tonneaux
Dark, stewed meats and savory with hints of salted capers, black olive, and black currant fruit. Elegant, finely textured, almost silky though with flavors that are slightly muddy, plummy and gamy. Very fine tannins lead to a fairly ethereal finish, and while this is easy to drink and delivers plenty of fruit its a bit boring with tannins building and clipping the dark, coffee and leather toned finish. 86
2017 Podere Casanova Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
97% Prugnolo Gentile
Unspecified ageing regiment
Very fruity with some spicy porcini and forest floral accent notes. Quite plummy and darkly fruited with lots of black spices, leaning towards coffee bean and licorice and a vanilla base note. Moderately juicy on entry, there's plenty of wild berry, almost boysenberry fruit here in a rather exotic vein with a rather elegant feel across the midpalate turning a bit darker and drier on the backend. Firm, stony and rather severe in the mouth. This is quite a serious wine, perhaps too serious, though you can’t deny the depth, richness, and balance here. Very ageworthy and better in 2-3 years. I wouldn’t buy it but it makes quite a statement. 92
2017 Icario Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangiovse, 5% Colorino
Aged 30 months in large cask and tonneaux
Gamy, leathery and black fruited on the nose with a fine spicy dried gingery cigar box note of oak. Smooth, supple though low across the palate and a bit heavy. Chewy, pleasantly so, but dark anonymous and finishing with extracted tea like tannins that are out of proportion here. Lacks depth and balance 83
2017 Fattoria della Talosa Alboretto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Sangiovese
Aged for 24 months in a blend of 2nd, 3rd, and th passage tonneaux, large barrels and stainless steel
Lots of oak and an over-ripe pruny character on the nose with hints of oxidation. Lots Of licorice candy on the nose. Cooked out and a bit hollow in the mouth. There's some pleasant wild cherry fruit here, and a suggestion of spicy herbs, but this is laden with dry tannin, chewy, and too ristic. 82
2017 Gattavecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangioves, 5% Colorino
24 months in slavonian oak casks followed by a passage in French oak
Cafe au lait and intelligently used fancy oak on the nose layered over a rather complex mineral, floral and slightly leather dark fruit nose. A touch lean, then gently austere on the palate, perhaps lacking a bit of depth, and certainly short, this nonetheless has lovely faceted fruit lurking at its core. Very likely to improve in the bottle though not to be terribly long lived, I can see this revealing complex, well balanced fruit in a rather sleek and moderately rich style after another year or 2 of bottle age. Tough to rate today but call it an 88 lending it a point or two for potential 88
2017 Lombardo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Matured 50% in barrique and tonneuax and 50% in botte between 20- 40HL
Dank, dark aroma of brewed coffee, damp cigar butt, and almost medicinal spice. Fairly well balanced in the mouth on the lean, more elegant side with a much fresher impression in the mouth. The tannins are a bit extracted though with some wood tannin lending an excessively dry note to the finish. In fact the tannins in general are outsized here lending this a clumsy, stern demeanor. This needs age but it may not necessarily get any better. Leathery and traditional. 83
2017 Le Berne Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Sangiovese
Aged 60% in Slavonian oak, and 40% in barrique
A bit cedary and creamy on the nose with nicely detailed small, dark, wild berry fruits balanced by oak spices. Elegant and quite clear on the palate there's lovely fruit here, in a slightly modern style, but this, while slightly small scaled, shows off lovely purity, depth and transparency, though wood tannins do build across the palate. Fruit shows a gentle blueberry cast. A bit too tannic but what is here is delicious and lithe should the tannin resolve, and I think it mostly will within 2 years or so. 90
2017 Fattoria Svetoni Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Prungolo Gentile, 5% Colorino
Aged 24 months, 70% in Slavonian botte, and 30% in French oak
Sour, salty plummy fruit touch of VA with incipient mushroom and macerated floral aromas. A bit diffuse on the palate, moderately large scaled, slightly chewy but indistinct and a bit muddy on the palate. Modest finish, shows good juiciness and lovely tannins but the fruit here lacks some detail. 85
2017 Podere Casa al Vento Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Sangiovese
Aged 2 years in oak
Reticent though iron, menthol, medicinal, and slight hints of ragu can be coaxed from the glass. Smooth, almost seamless, with an earthy cast to the palate. The tannins here are a bit bristly, but fresh with decent acidity leading to a moderately long and very lively finish. Not fruit driven, though complex and savory in the mouth, with a fine blend of elegance and power. Marginally rustic, but rich, powerful and focused in style. The finish here really grabs your attention with its energy. 93
2017 Polizano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
85% Prugnolo Gentile15% Colorino, Canaiolo, and Merlot
Aged for 14-16 months 2/3s in French barrique and tonneuax, the remainder in botte.
Hot iron, violet, stone, and crushed purple and black fruit greets the nose. A touch low in the mouth, a bit soft but with a nice kernel of rich, dark, slightly chewy fruit. A fun style that is not facile. This is all about the fruit, it’s pretty well presented with a fine, dusty, clay driven finish. Uncomplicated but certainly inviting. 90
2017 Tenuta Trerose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Santa Caterina
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Aged in a mix of 10HL casks and 30-40HL barrels
A bit dank and nutty old wood greets the nose followed by high toned aromas of black fruit, cedar, and leather. Smooth, supple, broad and a bit fleshy in the mouth though retaining decent transparency. A middle of the road rendition that feels a bit commercial- low risk, but is pleasant and not overdone. Fruity, pleasant, properly proportioned but lacking some oomph and definition. 88
2017 Tenuta Valdipiatta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sangiovese and canaiolo Nero
Aged for 6 months in barrique followed by 12 months in Slavonian botte
Candy coffee notes greet the nose followed by blue flowers and some hightoned sandy soil notes lots of meaty, fleshy, cherry fruit. With a rusty top note. Fluid in the mouth, lacks some tension but has a nice fleshy feel with excellently judged acids. There's lots of cherry wild berry fruit here, and a graceful note of austerity lending this some gravitas. The backend leads with deep minerality which gains some wood ageing inflections on the modest finish. Trying very hard but lacks some intensity and detail. Still it’s quite complex and nuanced. Seems just a bit washed out. 88
2017 Romeo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% mammolo, 5% Colorino
Aged for 6-12 months, 80% in French oak barrels of 25-35HL, 20% in 500 liter tonneaux
Quite oaky on the nose, not quite new but raw with minty, resiny highlights layered over dark, murky medicinal cooked fruit. Small scaled in ehth mouth, with some freshness and attractive fruit flvors but this is laden with tannins, extracted, short, and simple. 82
2017 Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Sangiovese, 5% canaiolo and Merlot
Aged 18 months, 25% in 500 liter tonneaux and 75% in French and Slavonian oak of 26 and 50 HL
Light and fresh on the nose with notes of powdered ginger and mace framing a fine core of slightly leathery black fruit. Polished in the mouth, a touch slender but very fine with a nuanced feel. There’s a delicacy to this which is attractive but risks getting lost in this setting. Not the most complex, but the cherry fruit is quite pure and natural tasting with nuance and detail. A hair dilute perhaps but very pleasant and elegant. 90
2017 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Redi
More than a little VA, over-ripe and indistinct on the nose, with some older oak accents and some leathery undertones. A bit soft, and a bit chewy, there is a sense of dry extract here, but the tannins are well judged. Not much depth to the mulberry tinged austere dark fruit. A dry, short finish wraps things up. Austere, sleek, a bit too dry, and lacking some depth but making up for it with its tactile impression on the palate. 86
2017 Matinella Burberoso Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% Canailolo, 5% Mammolo
Aged 18 mnths in 25 and 50HL botte
Cookies and creme on the nose followed by more mocha and ground coffee character, some dark fruit and spicy, dusty soil tones. Rounded but not fleshy with good acidity keeping things lively. A smaller scaled subtle example of Vino Nobile but one that checks all the boxes. Perhaps the aromatics lack some overt fruitiness but the palate is sleek, subtle, and offers a fine blend of earthy, older oak influence and compact berry flavors. And the finish is lovely with well balanced fruit tannins lending the right note of austerity and allowing the soil toned and lightly floral, almost citrusy finish to emerge. 90
2017 Le Bertille Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
90% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo and Colorino
Aged for 12 months in 25HL Slavonian botte, followed by 12months in 35-50HL Slavonian botte
Aromas of hot iron, gingerbread, and dark, slightly confected coffee toned fruit emerges on the nose. Odd in the mouth, almost silky and delicate though with flavors and intensity that would suggest a bigger scaled wine. This feels a bit stripped, it's pleasant, clean, and pure in the mouth with a rather refreshing feel but lacks some flavor intensity and freshness to the fruit, still not bad with a slightly minty and fruitier finale. The minor fruit has a candied feel. Tannic and tart and too structured for the level of fruit here. 87
2017 La Ciarlina Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
95% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% Mammolo
Aged for 18 months in Slavonian botte
Very vinous, earthy ,and deep on the nose with big fruit, big leathery notes, and a fine underlay of wood influence. Fairly big and slightly chewy in the mouth, there's lots of wild berry fruit but this is not soft, it’s moderately tannic but the tannins are well judged and the acidity keeps this very fresh and lively. Fruity, a bit chewy, slightly rustic but is a lusty, gutsy way. It is far from a subtle wine but is a house party in your mouth. Needs another year or two to help soften the tannins but this is high octane fun. 92
2017 La Combarbia Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Aged for 18 months in 30 HL barrels
Lots of vanilla and sweet cocoa notes grace the nose. The fruit is pruny and very ripe. A touch diffuses in the mouth, with truffle notes gracing the simple and low intensity core of plummy fruit. Simple, a bit clumsy and short, There’s some nice bricky tones in the mouth, but this is mostly about the modest core of fruit and over extracted tannins. 82
2017 Fanetti Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
80% Prugnolo Gentile, 15% Canaiolo, 5% mammolo
Aged for 36 months in Slavonian botte
Dark, graced with aromas of old wood, leather, and slightly dirty if not off-putting notes. Spicy, showing some olive tinged notes to the fruit, intense and complex if a bit glossy and modern. Seamless, not nuanced but sleek and fairly elegant in the mouth. There’s alot to unwind here, and the fruit is well supported by earthy wood and spice tones. A wine that demands some bottle age but does finish with lovely tannins and a real flourish of fruit. This could be a knockout with another 2 years in bottle, though there is a suggestion of brett here. Still packed with potential. So long and deep. 93
2017 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Motsly Prugnolo Gentile
Aged for 18 months in lare oak barrels
Candied though rather red fruited on the nose, with lovely spicy accents of arugula, flowers, medicinal herbs and a touch of molasses. Smells absolutely terrific. Youthful, very vinous, very natural and pure feeling with a graceful elegance. Flavors are quite fruity but at the same time show great nuances with floral and herbal complexity. A touch short, but the flavors here are perhaps my favorite of the day. It’s not complex or terribly long but this does come off as the purest presentation of fruit and is well balanced and fairly classically styled without being rustic. Happy face. 90
2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
2017 Tenuta Valdipiatta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Vigneto d’Alfiero
Some older oak greets the nose along with rather fresh lingonberry, iron, and clay aromas. A touch loose in the mouth, quite mineral with faint wild berry fruit. Open knit but lacking a bit of tension in the mouth and turning a bit clay toned and chewy on the moderately long backend. Could use a bit more fruit, but it is rather finely textured and elegant. A bit nutty on the finish. 87
2017 Lunadoro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Pagliareto
Moderately oaky on the nose, toasty and with some candied redhots/cinnamon highlights then showing some latex and lots of sour fruits and almost peppery, exotic middle eastern spice notes. Supple, deep, fairly vinous and rich if lacking a little tension in the mouth, Still this delivers profound fruit with excellent transparency and firms up on the long, elegant, mineral and fruit driven finish that shows terrific additional potential for development. Exciting bold yet well-crafted wine. 94
2017 Bindella Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione I quadri
Iron, floral and fairly sweet, candied wild berry fruits on the nose. Juicy, deep and vinous on the palate with lots of wild berry fruit and floral inner mouth perfumes. A bit chunky in the mouth with chewy tannins that are outsized for the wine. Fruity and rustic, not without its appeal though it is a bit of a slog right now. 84
2017 Gattavechi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Pareto
Darka and decisively fruity with dank candied coffee accents lending some complexity. Rather spicy and a bit fleshy with a hint of candied watermelon rind. Smooth, supple, moderately rich wine that has a bit of a cooked feel to the flavors. Lacks detail and freshness. Loose in the mouth and quite short. Dark but underwhelming. 83
2016 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
2016 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Tight with vague suggestions of leather, forest floor, and dried herbs on the nose, along with attractive, nuanced nutty oak tones. Rich, supple, slightly relaxed in the mouth but delivering plenty of richness and depth. Elegant in a soft way with a pillowy core of leathery dark fruit wrapped in gentle soil and wood sice notes. Very finely textured and deep though lacking some precision and nuance. Still quite satisfying. 90
2016 Bindella Vallocaia Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
A bit cedary, vanilla, and sweetly wood spiced aromas frame the core of dark, earthy wild berry fruit. Sleek, smaller scaled but finely textured wine. There's pleasant fruit here, detailed and faceted but this lacks a bit of intensity and length Still love the flavors and surprisingly the oak on the nose is quite subtle on the palate. Austere and small scale. A minor classic. 87
2016 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Menthol, old wood, and mushroomy on the nose. With lots of iron character. Diffuse in the mouth, just not much here with alittle chew up front and some innocuous tart fruit that fades away on the ethereal fish. Quite closed. JR
2016 Il Molinaccio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva La Poiana
A bit sweet on the nose with a certain braised meatiness to the core of dark wild strawberry and slightly oxidized coffee tinged plummy fruit. Smooth and rich, deep and fairly vinous, there's a lot to like here, it's almost velvety, deep, powerful and delivers lots of dark cherry and plummy fruit with wonderfully ripe tannins and a gentle wash of acidity across the long finish which lacks just a little juiciness making this somewhat chewy. A touch flat in the mouth but no doubt a powerful crowd pleaser. 92
2016 La Braccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Vigneto Sante Pia
Dark, low, ripe black fruits on the nose. Not much intensity here nor brightness. A bit flat in the mouth as well. A fair amount of substance,and some deep cherry fruit with surprising acidity in the mouth though this remains chewy and dull, but there is a certain intensity to the fruit which could be attractive. But it’s so over wrought and clumsy 82
2016 Fanbetti Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Aromas of toasty, cedary, nutty oak greet the nose well supported by nuanced, slightly plummy wild berry fruit with fine green herb and Indian spiced framing notes. Rich, polished, a touch heavy and certainly dense. This lacks a center and has odd green vegetal flavors in the mouth. Short, austere, cut from a tough cloth. Smells good but no joy to be found here. 80
2016 Le Bertille Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Bright complex green anise seed, slight celery seed tinged aromatics are rather fresh and attractive Fruity, a touch easy going but with nuanced clay, blue flower, and earthy spice flavors that spread out nicely on the palate. It’s austere and noble, how I remember these wines being 30 years ago with decent length. A bit of a relic, but I like it. 89
2016 Lombardo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
A touch oxidized herbs with a chestnutty cast to the dried grass and herb wrapped core of leather sour cherry fruit. A bit of artichoke emerges on the nose. A touch dried out in the mouth, with some subtle chew, a nice blend of simple fruit and a fine herbal artichoke aspect to the flavor profile. A small wine a bit austere, though with decent follow through on the palate. 87
2016 Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Candied ginger, ginseng, and lots of mediterranean herbs greet the nose. Fairly large but also light on its feet, there's a laciness here to the palate that is very attractive and flavors which are not super intense but are pure and elegant. All cherry and herb toned with floral, leather, and soil highlights. Finishes with length, good tension, and excellently judged noble tannins. Very fine blend of sinewy power and elegance with a hair too much oak on the nose but that should resolve itself within the year. Compelling stuff, though the oak is just a hair too evident. 93
2016 Tenuta Trerose Simposio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
A bit black peppery and spicy on the nose with notes of hot iron, fresh flower, sliced fruit, very fresh smelling with a lovely suggestion of green herb/arugula lending freshnes. Fresh and vibrant in the mouth, this is a lacy feather, just a joy to drink. Not powerful at all, it is resigned to being elegant and seductive with a racy character. Would like to see a little more length here. All nuance and head faints, this is a terrific interpretation of Vino Nobile. Playful and delicious. 91
2016 Podere Casa al Vento Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Fairly intense fruit with darker, quite ripe fruit, leather, and roasted nutty aroma. Smooth and rich, rather broad shouldered with decidedly black and almost sweet fruit that remains quite vinous in the mouth. There's toomuch tannin here but this has terrific depth of flavor and while the profile is quite ripe it doesn’t cross the line into over-ripeness. Very well balanced, sinewy power, nuance, this should age well and has everything in terrific balance. Wow, thats some intense black fruit with terrific inner mouth perfume on the finish. 94
2016 Le Colombaria Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Dark and leathery with hints of clay and mediterranean herbs. A touch diffuse in the mouth and lacking some fruit with dried out and volatile flavors of herbs, clay, and something vaguely vegetal and off putting on the palate. Rustic. 77
2016 Le Berne Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Tight on the nose, with nutty aromas and hints of green herbs. Smooth, broad and rich in the mouth. Feels quite tight but with good potential, lacks a bit of detail and nuance but marries rich ripe fruit with decent clarity to wood in an intelligent way that does not obscure the clay base notes. A bit on the soft side but rich with nuanced clay, floral, and blue fruit flavors. 91
2016 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
At times quite ripe on the nose then melony and green with nettle tones. A touch small scaled, raw and low in the mouth with those weird vegetal notes some of these wines seem to have. Lots of clay and chalky soil here but the fruit is thin and doesn’t cover the moedest structure. Angular, feels a bit baked, dry on the finish. Rustic not unpleasant but not interesting. 83
2016 Icario Vitaroccia Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Hot rocks and jammy black fruit aromas pop on the nose followed by hints of bay leaf, leather, and very subtle oak influence. A bit loose in the mouth, easy going, carries a pleasant load of well rendered fruit, though a bit innocuous in general with a pleasant finish that showcases decent acids and ripe tannins. A bit atypical and with almost an international cast to the wine, though not unpleasant 87
2016 Fassati Salarco Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Latex and smoke on the nose along with spicy, creamy oak and dark jammy mincemeat pie, and orange marmalade notes. Slick, polished, detailess mass on the palate. International, anonymous wine with some fruit hidden within its black hole of a soul. Impressive with some pleasant hints of fruit but not likeable. 83
2016 Vino Nobile di Montalcino
2016 Az. Agr. Tiberini Podere le Caggiole Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Smells of leather, moss, and bricks, with black fruit lurking in the background. Fluid in the mouth, light and linear with lovely red fruit and lots of herbal nuance. Refreshing on the palate with just the right hint of chew to lend the palate some substance without adding excessive weight or obscuring any detail. Easy to drink yet fairly complex with great late arriving inner mouth perfumes. Oh this is lovely, what I would buy. 92
2016 Montemercurio Messaggero Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Quite ripe and nutty on the nose, dark with jammy undertones and a shoe polish top note. Runded, almost plush in the mouth with fine floral character and small dark fruits arriving early on the palate followed by a light sheen of oak spice and some black currant flavors. A bit of a sleek wine, Lacking some detail but well done in its slightly extracted polished style. 89
2016 Croce di Febo Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Spicy, lots of candied cinnamon tones total red hots nose with a bit of underlying latex and a tomato ragu top note, Smooth, seamless, polished yet retaining a certain sense of elegance though the flavors are an odd blend of weedy and black fruited with oversteeped tea tannins and a chewy, modest finish. Still this has plenty of fruit and could improve with age. So smooth people should love this. 84
2016 Cantina del Giusto San Claudio II Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Vanilla and nutty oak greets the nose followed by jammy black cherry and black currant fruit. Rather bright and faceted in the mouth, with fine nuanced dried herb notes helping to frame the very pretty fruit here. This is lovely, so pure and fresh and precise with fruit that persists on the long finish. Certainly a middle weight example, and fairly light but so pure with pitch perfect fruit, and great floral notes that linger on the finish. Love this, it gains soil toned and additional blue floral complexity with time. 93
2016 Godiolo Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Aromas of sour fruits are light on the nose wrapped up in a touch of oak and some dried spice tones. Smooth and generous in the mouth, there's a fair amount of jammy, dark, and slightly anonymous fruit here. Silky if a touch matte, this is fairly powerful and deep with decently fresh fruit and very attractive spice and herb accents. A bit sophisticated by lacking a certain liveliness on the palate. Attractive if a bit four square. 88
2016 Villa S. Anna Vino Nobile di Montalcino
A touch dull on the nose, perhaps just a shade oxidized as well with earthy, herbal, cough syrup aromas. Lively on entry yet a bit flat with herbal flavors. Minor fruit, a bit loose, modest finish feels a bit over-extracted. 80
2016 Il Macchione Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Lovely fruit, slightly jammy and perhaps vanilla streaked on the nose with a subtle carob accent note. Soft, supple wine with pleasant red fruit, a bit of carobby and earthy complexity, and a fairy fruity finish. It's a bit lean and raw, rustic but suitable for current consumption. A safe restaurant bet. 86
2016 Manvi Arya Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Caramel, jammy black fruits, and licorice aromas greet the nose. Fairly large scaled, a bit chewy, deep if a bit too extracted with chewy flavors of plummy black berried fruit and herbs but then the tannins clamp down a bit on the finish. Then this curiously dissipates on the palate. Lots of dry extract, and fruit tannins but this manages to dissolve on the palate somehow. Not much detail but pleasant enough with a nice green fennel seed note on the finale. 87
2016 La Ciarlina Vino Nobile di Montalcino
Rather pungent aroma of macerated herbs, cough medicine, and dried herbs greet the nose. Smooth, broad, and powerful but lacking detail in the mouth though this does have a core of extracted, dark and rich fruit. Clumsy, intense and could improve with time but right now this is so extracted feeling it's tough to get through, long, with good purity to the black cherry fruit Built for the very long haul. 90
2016 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
2016 Croce di Febo Selezione Amore Mio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
Very floral, a big bouquet of floral scents that have a certain sweetness to them, then arrive complicating notes of cinnamon, super ripe wild berry fruits, and a hint of aperol. Elegant and fine, silky if slightly austere, this is terrific in the mouth combining a certain degree of power with old viney depth on the palate. Great cut in the mouth and purty to the fruit which lingers on the very well balanced finish. Lacks just a nuance of detail but really comes together quite well. 94
2016 De’ Ricci Selezione SorAldo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
Meaty on the nose with a hint of latex to the chestnutty and floral fruit. A bit loose in the mouth, has a certain complexity built on herbs and red fruit, but this lacks a little freshness and feels dried out and a bit thin on the modest finish. 83
2016 Canneto Selezione Cascina di Doro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione
Candied, smoky, and even flinty on the nose with charry, herbal character. A little chewy in the mouth, rugged with dark, earthy fruit that fades rather quickly on the finish. Short, but pleasant and red fruited with a bit of bricky spice. Simple, uncomplicated, 83
2016 Lunadoro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Gran Pagliareto
Red fruited, even a touch of rosehips here with nuanced floral character over hints of hickory and spice. A bit fluid and clear on the palate with slightly muddy red fruit flavors. This is chewy and perhaps a touch too extracted with muted flavors and a gently spicy character. 86
2016 Fassati Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione Gersemi
Downright exotic on the nose with intensely floral aromas, wild black berry fruits and a rather obvious oak overlay. Nothing subtle here. Rich, bold, and polished in the mouth with great herbal and floral aromatics in the mouth supporting mulberry and blackberry fruit. Very modern if not shiny with terrific intensity that just pulls back from being excessive, allowing the noble tannins and decent acidity to emerge on the fairly long finish Just a little slick but still very Tuscan 92
2016 Matinella Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione 142.2
Gently floral with a subtle meaty undertone accented decidedly red fruits. Supple, a bit easy going, decent depth with bricky red fruit, a little chewy, and with a gently austere nature. Not a lot going on though this does show a bit more intensity on the long, bricky, and dried herb dried cherry toned finish. 87