2007 Eneo

The 2007 Eneo is simply awesome. Juicy red cherries, new leather, tobacco, wild cherries and earthiness come together in a rich, powerful style. Elements of ripeness and structure are combined in a classy wine of notable pedigree. The finish is long, energetic and focused, bringing everything back into place with remarkable harmony. The 2007 Eneo is 40% Montepulciano, 25% Sangiovese, 25% Marselan and 10% Alicante Bouschet that was aged in used French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. These impeccable, gorgeous 2007s from Montepeloso and proprietor Fabio Chiarellotto all came in at the high end of the ranges I published in Issue 184 based on samples I tasted just before the wines were bottled. The only real changes are in the drinking dates, which I have pushed back for all the wines, as they have firmed up a bit in bottle, something that is quite normal. Montepeloso is one of the emerging stars of the Tuscan coast. There isn’t too much more to say, except that these are reference-point wines that readers who love the best that Tuscany has to offer will not want to be without. Importer: The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484

The 2007 Eneo shows remarkable detail, clarity and freshness in its red cherries, flowers, sweet tobacco and licorice. In 2007 Eneo is surprisingly open, perfumed and accessible, with a seamless quality that softens some of the linearity that the wine typically shows at this stage. The finish is best described as long, pure and exceptionally silky, with subtle nuances of sweet tobacco, earthiness and crushed flowers that linger on the palate. Eneo is 40% Montepulciano, 25% Sangiovese, 25% Marselan and 10% Alicante Bouschet that was aged in used French oak barrels.