Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine produced in the Tuscan region of Italy as are its more well-known and more famous cousins of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino.
As with Chianti and Brunello, they are Sangiovese based wines with their own particular Sangiovese clone called Prugnolo Gentile.
Vino Nobile is a D.O.C.G. designated wine with the rules dictates the use of 70%-85% Sangiovese depending on the designation of entry level, Riserva or Pieve.
Pieve is a new designation approved in 2025 and is the level above Riserva. Pieve is broken down into 12 sub districts (Pievi) and the grapes must be from vineyards at least 15 years old and managed by the producer/bottler.
A walk around tasting of the wines of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano as well as a sit-down, guided wine seminar was held on May 21st for members of the trade. At the guided wine seminar, they poured 12 wines from the 2021 vintage from various producers
Since these wines aren’t as well known as the other wines from Tuscany, the winemakers had to step up their game and focus on quality to win over consumers and I tasted that in the wines I sampled.
Guided Wine Tasting
2021 Carpineto Pieve Sant’Albino Vigneto Poggio Sant’Enrico Grande: Clear medium red, stone and black cherry on the nose, concentrated dusty red fruit, dusty tannin, nice grip.
2021 Podere Casanova Pieve Sant’Ilaro DOCG: Clear medium red, purple rim, red cherry tar on the nose, juicy red fruit with white pepper notes, firm tannin.
2021 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Pieve Sant’Ilario DOCG: Clear dark red, purple rim, sweet tarry red cherry on the nose, bright red fruit with leather notes, crisp acids and bitter cherry on the finish.
2021 Tiberini Pieve Caggiole DOCG: Clear medium purple, black fruit and varnish on the nose, juicy red fruit, dusty tannin with moderate acidity.
2021 Poleziano Pieve Caggiole DOCG: Clear dark red, purple rim, black cherry and petroleum on the nose, juicy and chewy black fruit, dusty tannin, nice grip.
2021 Fattoria Svetoni Pieve Cervognano DOCG: Clear medium red, tar and cigarette smoke on the nose, juicy, a little bland, firm grip.
2021 Le Berne Pieve Cervognano Alto: Clear medium red, sweet red fruit, black pepper and some earth on the nose, juicy red fruit, tight with firm tannin.
2021 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Pieve Cervognano DOCG: Opaque dark red, ripe fruit and tobacco on the nose, juicy red fruit, firm, dusty tannin.
2021 Marchese Frescobaldi Pieve Cervognano Tenuta Calimaia Viacroce DOCG: Opaque dark black, tar and ripe dark cherry on the nose, chewy black fruit ending with mouth coating tannin.
2021 Talosa Pieve Le Grazie Vigna Chiusino DOCG: Opaque black, purple rim, perfume of violets, thyme and black leather, concentrated and tight with tongue coating tannin.
2021 La Ciarliana Pieve Cerliana DOCG: Opaque dark red, purple rim, tar and crushed black fruit on the nose, chewy black fruit with mint notes, tongue coating tannin, moderate acidity.
2021 Gracciano Della Seta Pieve Gracciano DOCG: Clear medium red, sweet tree bark on the nose, juicy red fruit, firm tannin and crisp acids.
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