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Carpineto winery in Montepulciano area (Tuscany) has celebrated its 50th anniversary right this year, with a vertical tasting of its fine Tuscan red, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, shared with wine&food writers and journalists coming from all over.

carpineto winery in montepulciano

The appointment opened for the all group and me a week dense of events tied to the athletic Bravìo and the wine&food contest A Tavola con il Nobile, I have already written about.

So before a fabulous lunch organized by Il Rabarbaro restaurant of Chianciano town we had the opportunity to taste 8 bottles from the vintage 1989 up to vintage 2009!

vertical tasting at Carpineto winery – Montepulciano (Toscana)

 

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO RISERVA 1989

A vintage rewarded with 3 starts (out of 5) that, instead, over time, it turned out to be special as demonstrated even from the visual analysis of the wine. The colour is a compact garnet with a good brightness. The bouquet is made of forest floor, dried violet along with wild berries, black pepper, licorice and meaty notes that enrich the already complex mix of aromas. On the palate it shows a good acidity and a nice texture although a light bitter touch on the final. Among the best ones of the flight

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO RISERVA 1990

As outlined with the previous wine, Vino Nobile son of the 1990, even if the vintage was rewarded with 5 starts out of 5, it is declining (compared to the older previous one), with an oxidised touch in the colour as well as in the bouquet that is fully developed offering some hints of coffee liqueur, figs and little more than that. Dry. We know, wine is alive and each bottle has a different story

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO RISERVA 1995

4 starts out of 5 for this vintage that promised a good potential. Beyond the intro I can state a penetrating bouquet made of mushroom, wet leaves, red fruits over a balsamic background. Still lively with a firm tannin which might get rounder over time. Among the best ones of the flight

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO RISERVA 2007

Garnet only in the reflections. The bouquet is refreshing and pungent thanks to peppery notes that I would describe as green pepper (better than black one). Still rough on the palate with less elegant tannins: it needs a longer ageing in bottle

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO RISERVA 2010

5 starts out of 5 for a uniform and great vintage and so it is easy to imagine why this Nobile has been rewarded by WS too. The colour is lively and the bouquet is intriguing with crunchy fruit, specifically red cherry and strawberry and then laurel, anchovy, pepper. On the palate is coherent, juicy and fresh. A wine that many people would love for sure as it is very well done even if it still not the best one I have had out of this flight

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO RISERVA 2012

Ruby red in colour, the bouquet is less pronounced but elegant with notes of red and black fruits, spices and forest floor that run after each other without any “arrogance”. The character is “affable” although the quivering tannins. Shy wine but very good!

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO cru: “POGGIO SANT’ENRICO” 2009

The colour and the tonality impress for the brightness althought its 8 years. On the nose violet and tobacco follow notes of wet ground and dark fruit. Amazing the texture, the tannin is firm but well managed. The wood has soften them without being intrusive. Dark and introspective wine!

  • VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO cru: “POGGIO SANT’ENRICO” 2001 

Even in this case, colour and notes introduce a youthful wine. Blueberry, prune and an intense blackcherry combine with a sanguineous and peppery character. Coherent on the palate where I find fruit again. Bodied with an important tannin and a long final made of toasted almond that invites to a second sip: long, fruity, with a fluid soul. My best sip out of the flight!

 

Last but not least I like to also mention the Rosso di Montepulciano 2015 (the “basic” red) that I found fresh and easy drinking. It is absolutely in line with its “big brother” but evidently more immediate and graceful, for a different food pairing!

 

I will soon be again in this magic area to discover more about the local production. Stay tuned.

 

 

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