Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Dei Vino Nobile di Montelpuciano 2010
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 90% Sangiovese (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) and blended with Canaiolo (10%). The grapes are macerated for 20 days in stainless steel tanks, then put into Slavonian oak barrels for 2 years. The wine is then held for 6 months in the bottle before it is released. This wine can be aged for up to an additional 10 years.
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/
Why this wine works:
This is a highly regarded wine, because of the very interesting flavor profile and its food friendly nature. This Vino Nobile has a bright ruby red colour and a rich texture. It has prominent aromas of cherry and plum – but not over-powering. The aroma is followed with a full-bodied palate, with soft, round tannins and a flavorful finish with balanced acidity. This is one of the few “goes with everything” wine. It can be enjoyed on its own, with the Parmesan crisps (or any flavorful aged cheese), pizza and pasta – but it was exceptional with the salad dressed with the Meyer lemon vinaigrette and the flank steak.
Scoring:
There was more ranging opinions on this Vino Nobile than with the Avignonese Vino Nobile from our last tasting (click on the link for the Avignonese to see more info). There were a few 2 ratings, with 5 people rating it 5. The Dei Vino Nobile had an average score of 3.83, with 3 people saying it was the best of the evening.
Where to buy:
We sourced this wine from the Central Liquors, Flemington NJ, and was purchased for $24.
