Winemaker Notes
Montiano 2019 is the result of a well-balanced growing season and truly reflects its territory of origin with a wide range of fruity aromas and flavors, as well as delicate and silky tannins—a decisive and unique expression of the finest Merlot. The nose offers aromatic notes of red fruit, initially crisp and fresh, evolving over to ripe and intense. Just the right level of flavor extraction from aging in oak. The palate is defined by its refined structure, sophisticated depth of flavors and elegant tannins.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This pure merlot offers fascinating aromas of purple fruits, spices, green olives, sandalwood. Medium body, firm tannins and a linear finish. Subtle walnut, chocolate, blackberry, and a black olive character comes out at the end. Tight and polished. Try after 2025.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Showing great freshness coupled with darkly concentrated fruit, the 2019 Montiano Cotarella stands out beautifully when compared to recent past vintages. This wine is vibrant and dynamic with black cherry, redcurrant, sweet apricot and exotic spice delivered with full-bodied intensity. There is a Mediterranean element as well that recalls grilled rosemary or lavender. This edition of Montiano, one of Italy's most celebrated Merlots, stands out in a crowd.
Rating: 95+ -
Wine Enthusiast
Meat, soil and cherries create a rich nose, with softer cedar, vanilla and coconut peeking through. The palate has more cherries, plus plums, chocolate and a velvety texture reinforced by polished tannins. An acidic bite precedes a long, slightly bitter finish.
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Wine Spectator
Fragrant and appealing, with an enticing skein of sandalwood, vanilla, tar and balsamico elements winding through a pure beam of ripe black cherry fruit. This medium-bodied red is silky and harmonious on the palate, with fine-grained tannins and a subtle tang of orange peel acidity focusing the lingering finish. Lovely.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Known as the ancient homeland of the Latins, today there is a vigorus wine industry beyond the city limits of modern, bustling Rome. The Cesanese grape, full of red berry, spice and rose, is responsible for Lazio’s only true local reds. Lazio’s most famous white wine, called Frascati, is based on the local Malvasia del Lazio and Trebbiano Toscana. A sweet version, called Cannellino di Frascati, is also made.