This past Labor
Day weekend I finally celebrated my own labor and the birth of our
son Remy whom was born on July 3rd at a healthy 8 pounds and 10 ounces It's been a LONG time since I've enjoyed a glass of wine, but the sacrifices have been all worth it. I enjoy waiting to
open some of my special bottles for special occasions and what a
special life changing occasion it has been. With so many bottles I have
brought back from Italy it was hard to select one, but I chose my
2004 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano that I brought
back from my visit at their winery many years ago.
About Poliziano
I've written about
Poliziano a couple
times on my site when I wrote about wineries in Italy that use cement
tanks in their winemaking and I also included them on my top
5 winery recommendations in Tuscany. Poliziano was started in
1961and have increased their vineyard acreage from 22 to 120
hectacres (49 to 297 acres) over the years. There are a number of
single vineyards that they own including Asinone, Casale, Pozzi,
Valiano, Lama and Caggiole with soils that are rocky and that include
volcanic clay.
What makes up Vino Nobile di
Montepulciano
Vino nobile,
meaning “noble wine”, is produced in the south eastern part of
Tuscany. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano became a recognized DOCG
status in 1980. To be recognized as a DOCG wine it must contain at
least 70% of the sangiovese grape, here known as prugnolo gentile,
along with 30% other grapes from Montepulciano. It also must age at
least 2 years plus an additional year for the riserva. There are
also some additional requirements including yield restrictions, etc.
A more affordable Vino Nobile
A step down from
the DOCG level is the Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, a younger wine,
more affordable, and not held to as strict standards. Of course it
will never be a Vino Nobile, but it could be a more affordable option
for some to get a sense of Montepulciano where these grapes are
grown.
The 2004 Poliziano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano that I tasted was produced with 85%
prugnolo gentile and 15% a blend of colorino, canaiolo and merlot.
It's aged between 14-16 months partly in French oak barriques and
tonneaux that are 20% new and partly in traditional casks. Garnet in color and ruby red around the rim. This wine first had firm tannins that became more balanced with the ripe cherry fruit as time went on. A nicely structured wine with a persistent finish. Poliziano
recommends aging this wine 10-12 years and I felt this wine was still
drinking well and definitely benefited from decanting. It was very
smooth, if not better, even the next day. This wine was rated 88
points Wine Spectator and was awarded the “due bicchieri rossi”
for the 2005 Gambero Rosso.
Many of you have
visited wineries and know there is no better way to learn about the
land, the grapes, the climate and the history than putting yourself
amidst all the wonder that goes into creating what's in our glasses.
If you can find yourself wandering the vineyards of Italy that's even
better. Montepulciano is a great town in Tuscany to visit as well,
but bring your walking shoes as it's a hike to the top to reach
Piazza Grande.
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| Wine tasting in Piazza Grande. Sometimes you gotta be silly! |
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| Salute to the special occasions in your life! Life is too short...enjoy! |
Information
sourced by Poliziano.
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