The wines of Avignonese, situated in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Toscana, stay a few of my favorites. A number of weeks in the past, I engaged in an enlightening horizontal tasting of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2018 from the vineyard’s Single Vineyards Challenge with Matteo Giustiniani, CEO and winemaker, and Alessio Gorini, COO and Agronomist. The wines of Sangiovese, despatched to me in a tasting package, mirrored distinctive traits of every of 4 single vineyards.
The Avignonesi wines improve the richness and class of the Montepulciano heritage. Sangiovese wines have been produced for hundreds of years right here, and the fascination that lies round this appellation is elevated by the ”again to fundamentals, no un-natural intervention” strategy that biodynamic viticulture entails. This technique and the eagerness shared by all workers for producing prime quality merchandise, as a result of profound perception within the values shared by the administration workforce, permits us to respect the innate character of every wine by following its pure journey from the soil to the cellar and, lastly to the glass! Avignonesi
Presently, Avignesi is comprised of 680 acres which incorporates over 457 acres of vineyards plus a state-of-the-art winemaking facility in Montepulciano. Matteo defined that almost all vineyards are within the Nobile appellation the place Sangiovese, some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are cultivated. Different vineyards are discovered within the Cortona appellation the place white varieties reminiscent of Chardonnay and Bordeaux varieties together with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown. 42 acres of replanted native varieties are additionally discovered there. The local weather within the space is influenced by northeast winds leading to sizzling, dry days and chilly nights. Soil is sedimentary with clay/sand and calcareous/limestone components that assist produce “simple ingesting or complicated wines.” Manufacturing is at 500K – 600K bottles/12 months.
Avignonese – The Single Vineyards Challenge
Roughly 1000-1500 bottles produced every year, on account of Avignonesi’s Single Winery Challenge, are supposed to “reveal every parcel’s id and character.” Throughout my tasting of 4 wines of Sangiovese from 4 particular vineyards and one wine that was a mix of the parcels, I started to know the distinct expressions of what the realm provides. All wines are vinified in the identical method.
The one vineyards signify the Sangiovese attribute from which their Nobile is made. Matteo shared that the challenge is “an interplay between selection, folks, expectations. Sangiovese may be very finicky and expresses huge variations relying on the place it’s grown. It’s delicate and delicate and wishes sunshine, wind and water within the soil.” He continued. “In 2018, there wasn’t quite a lot of rain – there was some rain in spring. The rising season was heat and a variation of temperature throughout harvest was famous.”
Sangiovese – Picture Credit score: Avignonese
Sips of wine from the Poggetto di Sopra winery had been elegant and sleek with ripe cherries, lavender, candy spice, floral and mint notes. Matteo felt that it finest represents the appellation. The Oceano winery provided highly effective and intense notes of earth, scrubs, black cherries, violets, roses and minerality whereby the wine from Le Badelle was recent and balanced with robust aromas and flavors of blueberries, cherries and black fruit. Positioned 380 ft above sea degree, altitude is the principle attribute of the Le Badelle winery. One of many coolest vineyards, La Banditella, faces north with deep soils and fewer limestone that the opposite parcels. With excessive acidity, notes of inexperienced tea, black fruit, raspberries and lingering end, Matteo felt that this wine is generally Chianti in type and “is much less consultant of the appellation.”
The ultimate wine was an interesting mix of all parcels. Garnet with flecks of crimson, aromas of crimson berries, vibrant cherries and trace of violets wafted from the glass. On the palate, herbs, plums and cherries had been dominant and rested on a body of robust tannins and vibrant acidity. Clearly, the wine has the potential to age for years to come back.
Picture Credit score: Avignonese
Avignonesi is licensed natural by Suolo e Salute, licensed biodynamic with Biodyvin, registered with The Vegan Society and licensed ISO 45001 by SGS. It’s happy with its standing as a Licensed B Company that honors these which might be “a part of the worldwide motion for an inclusive equitable, and regenerative financial system.” The wines I tasted actually replicate Avignonesi’s concord with nature.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
For extra Grape Experiences and a free infographic “4 Keys to a Stellar Wine Choose” click on right here.
NOTE: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has a storied historical past in Italy, and it was the wine of alternative for a lot of outstanding figures all through Italian historical past, together with members of the Medici household. Nonetheless, this space has been missed. Now, vineyards like Avignonesi are serving to to revive the fame of the wine by working to construct a extra sustainable and safer surroundings for wine manufacturing in Italy. Avignonesi is a member of the Consorszio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano which is a company that’s devoted to selling the picture of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano all through Italy and the remainder of the world. With 270 present members, the Consorzio acknowledges the significance of defending Italian historical past and the position that wine has performed in it.
