Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montelpuciano 2011
Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montelpuciano 2011
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the oldest Italian wine (traced to the 700’s) is produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano. The wine is made from at least 70% Sangiovese (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) and may be blended with Canaiolo (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. This wine is 100% Sangiovese, and is aged in oak barrels for 2 years, then held for 7 months in the bottle before it is released.
The Avignonese is an opulent style, featuring black cherry, plum, earth and spice flavors. Mr. Serious Foodie keeps quite a bit on hand, as it is a complex wine, even when it is young. We often pair it with veal, chicken, or pork dishes. We like the fine balance of acidity and tannins, and the lingering aftertaste of spice and red berries.
In our tasting, the Avignonese Vino Nobile had an average score of 4.55, tied with the Al Passo for the highest rating of the evening. One taster rated it “3”, with most opinions in the range of 4 to 5. 2 people said it was the best of the evening.
Note: There is much confusion between the wines in Montepulciano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. The latter is wine made from the Montepulciano grape – related, but different from Sangiovese. See our website for a full discussion on these two grapes: www.theseriousfoodie.net/ montepulciano-by-any-other-name/
We sourced this wine from Total Wine in University Park, FL, and was purchased for $29.
