Avignonesi, 2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

People

Virginie Saverys is from Belgium, and had a successful career as an attorney before diving head-first into winemaking. She purchased the Avignonesi estate in 2009, and immediately got to work on implementing organic and biodynamic practices, with a deep dedication to sustainable practices on all fronts: climatic, environmental, and human. Today, Avignonesi is the largest biodynamic winery in Italy.

Place

Located in Tuscany, the DOCG of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano uses Sangiovese. Be cautious not to confuse these Tuscan wines with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, as that’s a varietal that is most definitely not Sangiovese. While Chiantis are also based on Sangiovese, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano tends to be a bit less fruit-driven, and contain a bit more herbaceousness and minerality.

The vines that produced this fruit are between 12 and 38 years old, trained in a variety of ways (bush, guyot, and cordon) and sit between 270 and 375 meters above sea level. The soils are of marine origin, calcareous in nature, with clay and sand.

Palate

Red berries and fruit, with the characteristic violet of Sangiovese. Notable tannins, a bit of vanilla and mediterranean herbs. Classic Montepulciano.

Technical Notes

Organically and biodynamically farmed. Fermented by natural yeasts cultivated from the land. Aged 18 months in large Slavonian oak and smaller barriques. Bottled at 13.5%. 13,500 cases produced.