Italy
Boscarelli
Montepulciano
Winemakers: Luca Ferrari & Maurizio Castelli
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 'king of all wines' according to poet Francesco Redi in the 17th century, bears a family resemblance both to Chianti Classico and Brunello, as it is made from Prugnolo Gentile, a clone of Sangiovese. Boscarelli is a small estate of 13 hectares of vines planted at an altitude of 250-300 metres above sea level on a gently sloping amphitheatre of sandy/calcareous, clayey/silty land and is surrounded by woods – 'bosco' is local dialect for woods, hence the name. Family-run, with four decades of winemaking excellence and a track record of vintage-to-vintage consistency, Boscarelli could rightly lay claim to that of 'appellation leader'. Owner Paola De Ferrari Corradi (now flanked by sons Luca and Nicolo) and star oenologist Maurizio Castelli celebrate a gorgeous style of wine that is vinosity itself, at once combining richness and complexity.
The blend for the Vino Nobile is 90% Prugnolo Gentile with 6% Malvasia Nera and 4% Mammolo from clones of their own old vineyards. Aged 24 months in a combination of large barrels, tonneaux and barrique, the wine is taut and structured with classic blueberry and plum fruit, evolving to violets. Complex and elegant, there are notes of dried herbs, earth and leather framed by firm, well integrated tannins. Great drinking now, the 2006 will age gracefully over the next decade.
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Wines
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG