The wines of Avignonesi, positioned 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 Venture 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 employees for producing top quality merchandise, as a result of profound perception within the values shared by the administration crew, 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, Avignonesi 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 corresponding to 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 scorching, dry days and chilly nights. Soil is sedimentary with clay/sand and calcareous/limestone parts that assist produce “straightforward ingesting or complicated wines.” Manufacturing is at 500K – 600K bottles/12 months.
Avignonesi – The Single Vineyards Venture
Roughly 1000-1500 bottles produced every year, because of Avignonesi’s Single Winery Venture, are supposed to “reveal every parcel’s identification 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 presents. All wines are vinified in the identical method.
The only vineyards signify the Sangiovese attribute from which their Nobile is made. Matteo shared that the mission 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 loads of rain – there was some rain in spring. The rising season was heat and a variation of temperature throughout harvest was famous.”
Sangiovese – Photograph Credit score: Avignonese
Sips of wine from the Poggetto di Sopra winery have been elegant and sleek with ripe cherries, lavender, candy spice, floral and mint notes. Matteo felt that it greatest represents the appellation. The Oceano winery supplied highly effective and intense notes of earth, scrubs, black cherries, violets, roses and minerality whereby the wine from Le Badelle was contemporary and balanced with robust aromas and flavors of blueberries, cherries and black fruit. Positioned 380 ft above sea degree, altitude is the primary 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 model and “is much less consultant of the appellation.”
The ultimate wine was an interesting mix of all parcels. Garnet with flecks of pink, aromas of pink berries, vivid cherries and trace of violets wafted from the glass. On the palate, herbs, plums and cherries have been dominant and rested on a body of robust tannins and vibrant acidity. Clearly, the wine has the potential to age for years to return.
Photograph Credit score: Avignonesi
Avignonesi is licensed natural by Suolo e Salute, licensed biodynamic with Biodyvin, registered with The Vegan Society and authorized ISO 45001 by SGS. It’s pleased with its standing as a Licensed B Company that honors these which can be “a part of the worldwide motion for an inclusive equitable, and regenerative financial system.” The wines I tasted actually mirror Avignonesi’s concord with nature.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
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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 status 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 corporation 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 function that wine has performed in it.
