Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Master Class*

*Not to be confused with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

First, let’s clarify the geography and nomenclature. From Wikipedia: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is an Italian red wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy. It should not be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a Tuscan wine made from Sangiovese and other grapes.^[1]

Got it? Maybe this confusion is what drives the promotional efforts of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which held a Master Class for the wine trade a few months back at City Winery in Boston. The tassting was hosted by members of the Consorzio and led by superstar wine critic Antonio Galloni [right, seen with VinoDuo’s Gary Markowitz], late of Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate and now CEO of Vinous.com, a multi-platform destination for wine geeks and casual sippers alike.

Galloni covered a wide range of topics during his two-hour class, from the dramatic impact of climate change on wine making in Italy [bottom line: more heat is good for grapes, unless you care about the future of the planet] to the forthcoming dramatic changes in classification for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano D.O.C.G.

“Asinone” 2020-Selezione – Poliziano $65 at Wine Chateau
100 % Sangiovese. Beautiful vanilla/cedar notes on the nose. Well-balanced with a spicy, complex flavor palate ending in a dry finish. Suggested food pairing is Fiorentina Steak.

“La Braccesca” 2020 – Marchesi Antinori $30 at Total Wine [2019 vintage]
Blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. Still a young wine that starts with a floral nose followed by nicely balanced palate of concentrated red fruits and fine tannins.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020 – Boscarelli $38 at Wine.com [2019 vintage]
80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo. If you love Brunello but don’t like the price, this is your wine. Absolutely delicious and well priced. Suggested pairing with grilled, roasted or braised red meats, game dishes and seasoned cheeses.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2019 – Avignonesi $25 at Wine.com [2018 vintage]
100% Sangiovese, This medium-bodied wine is light in color with notes of candied cherries on the nose. The dusty Pinot-like palate was satisfying with its long, full finish.  The suggested pairings include everything from meats and pasta to pizza. 

“Messaggero” 2018 – Montemercurio Not currently available in the US
95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo Nero. The toasty cedar nose leads to a rich, complex wine with full tannic structure and long finish on the palate. We thought of it as a “Baby Barolo.”