2013 Montevertine Rosso

Adopting a soft and intricate approach, the 2013 Montevertine is like an Impressionist's painting executed with pastel colors and bright patches of luminosity. The wine is subtle and undertone, yet the power of the narrative is not lost. It speaks of the purity of Sangiovese with impeccable aromas of wild cherry and white cherry that are followed by pressed rose and dried violets. The mouthfeel is silky and polished. The slightly cooler vintage, the long growing season and slow ripening have all contributed to create this truly authentic taste of Sangiovese.

The 2013 Montevertine is a firm, classically built wine that is likely to require quite a few years to unwind. Bright acidity and beams of tannin provide the structural backbone. Still very primary and unevolved, the 2013 has closed down considerably since I tasted it from cask last year. The searing, mid-weight style will appeal most to readers who enjoy classically austere wines, but bottles opened before the age of ten are likely to not be particularly enjoyable. This is a wine for the long haul.

The 2013 Montevertine is pliant and expressive, with lovely mid-palate resonance and gorgeous depth. Today, the Montevertine comes across as a bit raw and unpolished, especially next to the sublime Pergole Torte, but it nevertheless shows ample potential as well as pedigree, not to mention multiple dimensions to its personality. This sample was a bit unsettled, which suggests it might have been racked recently. Still, the overall texture is impossible to miss.