Lunadoro Pagliareto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

Montepulciano in Tuscany is a place that I just drove by and never had the time to stop and visit unfortunately when I visited Tuscany last time. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels). Three years if it is a riserva category.

 Lunadoro is a wine producer in Montepulciano and the vineyards is situated in Valiano. Their wine Lunadoro Pagliareto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016 is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes and has an ABV of 14,5%. The wine is stored in oak barrels for 24 months before being bottled. The barrels used are French oak barriques.

In the nose I get a lot of red fruits.The taste of cherry, black currants, oak and some leather with pepper at the end. In the beginning quite closed as it need some air to open up. But after some time in the glass the taste is integrated and quite complex. Quite a strong wine which will benefit from a couple of more years of ageing before drinking. A very good wine now for me but with a couple of years more in the bottle it would be an excellent wine.

Rosenberg, Cantina di Ruscio, red wines from Marche

Rosenberg wines is a wine importer that imports wines from Italy to Sweden. It started when the Rosenbergs bought a villa in Marche and they discovered the wines of the winery Cantino di Ruscio. Marche is not a region which I have written so much about. Marche is situated along the coast with Emilia-Romagna above and Abruzzo below and on the west side it has a long border with Umbria.

In this blogpost I will focus on the red wines that Rosenberg imports to Sweden. For the second part I will focus on the white wines. The red wine grapes used in Marche are normally Sangiovese and Montepulciano. Rosenberg imports wines that either falls into the denominations Marche Rosso and Rosso Piceno. The Rosso Piceno has the following rules. It has to contain 35-85% Montepulciano and 15-50% Sangiovese and up to 15% other authorized red wine grapes.

The winery Cantino Di Ruscio is family owned and has been producing wine since the fifties. It is situated in Campofilone in Marche.

I have tried three red wines from Rosenberg. The first wine is Rosenberg Marche Rosso 2017 with an ABV of 14%. The grapes are 50% Montepulciano and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has been aged for 12 months in oak barrels and the at least six months in the bottle. This is quite  heavy wine with a dry finish. In the taste I get sour cherry, liquorice, violet and some oak. This is an excellent food wine and I wonder how it will do with a couple of more years of ageing.

The next wine is the Rosso piceno 2019 with an ABV of 13,5%. This is a nice red fruity red wine. Taste of red cherry, black currants and plum with some tannins at the end. Lighter than the previous wine but very good.

The last red wine is the wine Rosso Piceno del Poeta 2017 with an ABV of 14%. I have no information about the grape blend for this wine except that it should be a majority Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes. This is a quite dry and stringent wine. Taste of black currant, plum and oak. Quite a lot of tannins at the end leaving a dry finish. Goes very well with food.

Three good red wines from Rosenberg wines with different characters. For the next blog post will be three white wines from Rosenberg Wines.

Three red wines from Italy

 The first red wine is the the wine Nur from the Sardinian producer Sardus Pater of the vintage 2017. This wine is made Carignano grapes, also known as Carignan in French. It is from the DOC Carignano Del Sulcis in Sardinia. This is a very fruity red wine with cherry, jam and some tannins at the back which leaves you with a dry finish. Very good.

The next wine is from the region of Marche in Italy, it is called Il Segreto and is made by Sangiovese grapes. The vintage is 2017. This is a wine which is specially bottled for Sweden by Poggio Fiore. It is a nice heavy Sangiovese with a taste of red cherry, coffee and vanilla. Probably some newer oak casks have been used for this wine. 

The last wine is a Montepulciano D'Abruzzo called Miravigna from producer Casal Thaulero. The vintage is 2019. This is a youthful Montepulciano with a taste of red cherry, plum and some tannins. It is slightly spicy. Very good and nice.

Moncaro Vigneti Del Parco, Conero, 2010 Riserva

Moncaro is a coop in Marche Italy, with about 900 members. In Sweden Moncaro is mostly known for their white wines but the Conero DOGC produces only red wines. The Conero DOCG appellation is located on the slopes of Mount Conero in Marche, produces full-bodied dark red wines with aromas of black cherry and herbs, mainly from Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes. The wine Vigneti Del Parco from 2010 is a riserva and is made from 100% Montepulciano grapes. the wine has been aged for 18 months in French oak barriques and then aged in the bottle. I bought it 2019 so it has been aged a lot in the bottle before being sold.

The taste is of sour cherry, black currants and some oak and liquorice with some soft tannins in the back. Very good wine but remember to let it breath before drinking. As air makes it better and the sour cherries transforms into dark cherries then.

Three wines from Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a region in Italy which is famous for two grapes. The green grape Trebbiano and the red grape Montepulciano (not to be confused with the wines made from the town of Montepulciano in Tuscany).

First up is the white wine Mario's 45 made with 100% Trebbiano from the producer Tenuta Terraviva. The Trebbiano grapes for this wine is grown in the traditional Pergola Abruzzese. Harvest time is at the end of September. The wine is aged 12 months in casks, 6 months in steel containers and finally six months in the bottle before being sold. The vintage is 2017. In the nose I get pineapple and in the taste I get pear and grapefruit, It is a nice wine that goes perfectly with spicy food due to the acidity. Will also go very well together with fish.

The next two wines are red wines made from the Montepulciano grapes. First up is the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from producer Umani Ronchi. The vintage is 2018. In the taste I get some oak or dark chocolate with dark cherries  and some blackberry. A very fruity wine. Nice for the price.

The last Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is the Annata Historica from the producer Ripresa. This is an older expression from 2012. The colour is quite dark. The nose is quite soft. In the taste I get cherry, blackberry, violet and some tannins in the back. It has a medium finish, Very nice and I think it will get better with a few more years of ageing.

Toso, Nebbiolo D'Alba and Montepulciano D'Abruzzo from Cantina Zaccagnini

The wine Marne Forteí is a Nebbiolo D'Alba from the producer Toso. It is of the vintage 2016 and the ABV is 13%. The grapes are 100% Nebbiolo.  In the taste I get black currant with spice and some earthy notes with some tannins and oak. A nice Nebbiolo.

The next wine is Montepulciano D'Abruzzo from Cantina Zaccagnini. It is of the vintage 2017 with an ABV of 12,5%. I get a lot of red fruits on the nose. On the taste I get dark cherry and plum with some vanilla. A lovely wine.

Seven Rondineto wines from Fattoria Guiseppe Savani

Fattoria Guiseppe Savini is a producer of wine in the region of Abruzzo in Italy. This producer was founded in 1949 and now is owned by the same family in the third generation. The Savini property consist of 600 hectares of which 80 hectars is used for vineyards. The vineyards starts near the sea and goes up into the mountains. Savini has several brands and I have focused on their Rondineto brand and I have tasted seven of their wines. Three red wines and four white ones.

First red wine is their Monepulciano D'Abruzzo from 2015 with an ABV of 13%. The Montepulciano grapes are grown in the area of Teramo. In the taste I get a lot of black currant with some coffee and some more red fruits.

Next wine is the Pinot Nero from 2017 with and ABV of 12,5%. The Pinot Nero grapes are grown in the the area of Teramo. It is a nice Pinot nero with a taste of violet and dark cherry, Quite dry.

The final red wine is Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo which is more like a rose wine with the light red colour, but it is made of the Montepulciano grapes. It is written red wine on the bottle. In the taste I get a lot of strawberry with some more strawberry. Has a nice body for the style.

Now for the first white wine. It is the wine Trebbiano D'Abruzzo from 2017 with an ABV of 12,5%. The Trebbiano grapes are grown in the area of Teramo. The taste is of pear and citrus. Nice with seafood and chicken.

The wine Passerina from 2017 and an ABV of 12,5%. The passerina grapes are grown in the area of Teramo. It is a fresh wine with a taste of apple, pear and some honey and minerals,

Next up is the wine Pecorino from 2017 and an ABV of 12,5%. The pecorino grapes are grown in the area of Teramo. In the taste I get apple, pear, grapefruit and some acidity.

The last wine is a mix of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay from 2017 with an ABV of 12,5%. It is a light and refreshing wine with a taste of pear and some apricot.

A good line up from Savini. Good wines all over the board.

Ciu Ciu, four wines from Ciu Ciu

Ciu Ciu is a big producer fro Marche in Italy and I have tried four of their wines. Two white wines and two red ones. Let us start with the red wines of which the first is a Sangiovese based wine called Ciu Ciu Limitato Sangiovese. In the taste I get red fruit with some coffee and some black currant. A nice red but nothing special.
Next one is called Piceno Bachus. This is from 2016 and has an ABV of 13,5%. This wine consists of the grapes Sangiovese and Montepulciano. It is a very good mix of these grapes. I get dark cherries with some plums and some earthy notes and with some oak in the back. Much better than the Limitato.

Next up is two different white wines from Ciu Ciu. First one is the wine Merlettaie Offida from 2016 with an ABV of 13,5%. This consists of 100% Pecorino grapes. This is quite an austere white wine and the taste if of apple and some minerals. It is very dry and I would say that this is a food wine.

The last wine is the the white wine Falerio Oris from 2016 and the ABV 13%. The grapes are Pecorino and Passerina with some Trebbiano. In the taste I get some pear, acidity (citrus) and some minerals. A very good white wine. The best wine of this tasting.

Two red wines with very commercial labels

Time for two red wines with some commercial labels. First up is the wine Villa valentina which is a Sangiovese wine from Puglia in Italy. The vintage is 2017 and ABV is 13%. This organically wine has a taste of red fruits and berries with some sharpness. Nice wine but uncomplicated.

Next wine is the red wine Quentaurus from Abruzzo. It is made from the grape Montepulciano. The vintage is 2014 and the ABV is 14%. This is quite strong with red currants, some viols and tannins. Definately a food wine.

Red wine from Camerano and Orlando Contuccio Ponno

I visited Camerano which is a producer in Barolo last year. They produce many different red wines. One of them are of the variety Dolcetto D'Alba. Dolcetto is a grape that is common in Piemonte and is made as a table wine but I find this grape to be under appreciated. I bought a bottle of this wine in Barolo as it was quite cheap compared to the Barolos. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 13%. I gets herbs on the nose. The taste is sour cherries with some herbs and with some tannins in the back. A good wine that showcase the quality of Dolcetto and worth all the money I spent on it.

Next up is yet a wine from producer Orlandi Contucci Ponno from Abruzzo. I have tasted several other wine from this producer before. This wine is called La Regia Specula and is a Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Colline Teramane. The vintage is 2013 and the ABV is 14%. This wine has been aged for 10 months in a barrel and the six months in the bottle before being sold. It consists of 100% Montepulciano grapes. The taste is of dark sour cherries with some herbs with some big hits of tannins. A good wine.

Montepulciano vs Barbera

Montepulciano is a grape that is grown a lot in Marche in Italy. Producer Garofoli I have tasted several wines from and the latest one is the red wine Pian Carda. It is a wine from 2014 and is made of 100% Monetpulciano grapes. It is matured in oak casks for at least one year before being bottled. It is from the the hills behind Monte Cònero in Marche. I get a lot of red fruits on the nose. In the taste I get red cherries with some tannins and a dry finish. It is decent but nothing special. A good tablewine.

Next up is a Barbera d'Alba from Piemonte and the producer Giovanni Rosso who are situated in Serralunga d'Alba. When I was in Piemonte I visited Serralunga d'Alba and it was a beautiful small village with a magnificent castle.

The view from the castle is amazing and gives a good impression of how the surrounding lands look like.

Just a few kilometers outsude of Serralunga D'Alba Giovanni Rosso has their base in the hamlet of Baudana. Their barbera D'Alba wine is called Donna Margherita and is of the vintage 2014. The ABV is 13%. The taste is of black currants, cherries and some plums with some soft tannins. It is a very good wine and reminds me of my trip to Barolo. Barbera is an under appreciated grape.

Torlasco Barbaresco versus Umbrian red wine

For the second time in my life I tried a Barbaresco. It is the wine Torlasco of the vintage 2011 and the ABV is 14%. When trying to find information about this wine I find the following: "Torlasco is a line of wines born to satisfy the most exclusive markets and customers." This does not sound so good but in the end it is the taste that matters. The grape is 100% Nebbiolo and the grapes have been grown in the Barbaresco area of Piemonte. I find a lot of red berries on the nose. The taste is of black currants, tobacco and some violets. Some harsh tannins in the aftertaste. It is a decent wine but I expect more from a Barbaresco. I think this has been made for American tastes.

Next up is a wine from Umbria in Italy. It is from producer Cantina Roccafiore and the wine is called Rosso Melograno. The grapes is Sangiovese and Montepulciano and the vintage is 2013. ABV is 12,5%. The nose is full of light red berries. The taste is of red currants, raspberry with some herbs like sage. Nice easy wine, not so complex but clear flavours.

From Montalcino to two new places, Montepulciano and Molise

Tody it is all M, red wine from Montalcino, Montepulciano and Molise.

First up is a red wine from Montalcino in Tuscany, it is the Villa al Cortile Rosso Di Montalcino from 2015 with an ABV of 13,5%. The bottle says the the grapes comes from the south and north slopes of the Montalcino territory. As usual the grapes are 100% Sangiovese Grosso. The taste is of red fruits, red cherries, soft tannins, some liquorice, and a good aftertaste. A good wine.

Next we move to the town of Montepulciano also in Tuscany. It is the wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from producer Poliziano, with the subname Viti nuove. The vintage is 2014 and the ABV is 13,5%. It is made of 85% Prugnolo Gentile and 15% of other grapes such as Colorino and Canaiolo. The Prugnolo Gentile is the name for Sangiovese in Montepulciano. The taste is very spice, some black peppars, black currants and some liquorice. There are some tannins lingering in the aftertaste. Also a good wine.

The last bottle is a red wine from the little known region Molise in Italy. It is called Biferno Rosso Riserva by producer Zengarello. This wine is of the vintage 2011 and the ABV is 14%. The wine is made of the grapes Agliancio and Montepulciano, not to be confused with the town Montepulciano. The taste is of black currants, tobacco and liquorice. The tannins are quite strong. This is a wine that will age very well and I would probably like it even more when it becomes older. A good wine today with some ageing potential.

Super piemontese against normal Italian wines

The wine Corniolo from producer Livio Pavese is what some people calls a Superpiemonte. It is of the vintage 2010 and the grapes used are Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. They planted the grapes after being inspired by the Super tuscans of Tuscany such as Sassicaia. On the label is is written that it is a modern wine, full bodied, round and gentle.
So what is my impressions of this wine? The smell is of dark fruits. The taste is of cherries, viols and some tannins. For me tannins are a bit on the harsh side, and the aftertaste is very dry and here one can feel the tannins. For this wine the tannins are not integrated into the wine. For me there are much better wines in this priceclass to buy. I rather go with a pure Barbera wine. I would not say that this wine is gentle. It would need maybe seven years more of ageing and then I don't know if the tannins would be better or not.

Orlandi Contucci Ponno is a producer in Abruzzo in Italy that makes the wine Rubiolo. This wine is produced using only Montepulciano grapes grown from vineyards with a good southern exposure. The vintage is 2014 and the ABV is 13,5%. The taste is of black currants, some coffee and are a bit spicy. A nice red wine from Abruzzo.

The last wine comes from Maremma in Tuscany. It is the wine Le Facaie from producer Rocca Di Montemassi. The vintage is 2015 and ABV is 13,5%. It is made by 100% Sangiovese grapes. The are where this wine is produced is very beautiful. There are great aromas in the nose. The taste is dark berries and coffee and the taste is quite strong. A nice aftertaste in the mouth. A good wine that showcases the Sangiovese grapes

Another journey into Italian wines

The journey to try everything in Italian winemaking continues. This time I am in Puglia region on the southern part of Italy. The wine is Il Falcone by producer Azienda Vinicola Rivera. It is from the DOC Castel del Monte and is made of 70% Nero di Troia grapes and 30% Montepulciano grapes. It is a red wine and the colour is deep red. Before bottling it is stored in barrels for one year before being stored in bottles for another year before selling. This is from 2008 so it has been stored in the bottle for a longer time before being sold. The taste is of red currants and red cherries. Reminded me of my youth eating berriedsin my mums garden. Soft tannins that lingers a while. Good wine.