Winemaker Notes
The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Sotto Casa Riserva has been produced with the idea of harmonizing the elegance, character and freshness of Sangiovese, with the tannic texture, the structure and the fullness of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Blend: 80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, this has heady aromas of cassis, spice, menthol and rose. Elegantly structured and savory, the taut, enveloping palate features ripe Marasca cherry, licorice and espresso set against polished, fine-grained tannins.
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Wine Spectator
Dark and brooding, displaying concentrated flavors of black cherry, black currant, violet, mineral and juniper. Muscular tannins provide support and this finishes on the dry side, yet remains long and complex. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2036.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
This significant Tuscan village—not to be confused with the red grape of the same name widely grown in Abruzzo and the Marche regions—was home to one of the first four Italian DOCGs granted in 1980.
Based on the Sangiovese grape (here called Prugnolo Gentile), the village’s prized wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ranks stylistically in between Chianti Classico, for its finesse, and Brunello di Montalcino for its power. With a deep ruby color, heavy concentration and a firm structure given by the village's heavy, cool clay soils, most Vino Nobile di Montepulciano will demand some bottle age.