Winemaker Notes
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Toscana is the principal wine of Poliziano. Revered by nobility through the centuries, Vino Nobile was often hailed as "the wine of kings." Today, Vino Noble is still considered to be special, thanks to the Prugnolo Gentile clone of Sangiovese that is grown in the Montepulciano area. Poliziano uses 85% Prugnolo Gentile in their blend, along with two traditional Tuscan varieties, Colorino and Canaiolo, and a bit of Merlot. The complementary varieties add color, depth, and complexity to the elegance of the Sangiovese.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A modern Vino Nobile with dark chocolate and some plush spices. Aromas of plums, roasted red peppers, berries and pine cones follow through to a tight, medium- to full-bodied palate. This is firm and long. From organically grown grapes.
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Wine Enthusiast
The nose is floral and earthy, with aromas of rose water, herbs, damp soil and black cherries, but also has the tang of cola and fresh pepper. On the palate, tart blackberries accentuate a continued interplay between black cherry, pepper and herb notes, before a bitter, biting finish.
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Wine Spectator
Rich and dense, this red displays black cherry, blackberry and blueberry flavors accented by earth and iron. It's all backed by vibrant acidity and beefy tannins, staying fresh and long on the finish. Sangiovese, Colorino, Canaiolo and Merlot. Drink now through 2033.
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.