The Pievi del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano project had its christening (a beautiful presentation) during the preview dedicated to the typology. After a few years of gestation, the first wines of the 2021 vintage finally saw the light of day.
The most important wine news of the Tuscan previews was the presentation of the Pievi project in Montepulciano (for which we refer you to the article we wrote when the first glimpses of this new type were had). In tasting, finally eighteen Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve del 2021 which will go on sale during the year.
The staggering of market releases stems from a rule in the specification for this type that stipulates at least 1 year in the bottle, and not all producers bottled exactly one year ago. But beyond the innovative and important regulations, the official presentation held in the wonderful setting of the Temple of S Biagio (Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, finished in 1567) with all the producers and staff of the Consorzio del Nobile (the design and implementation is due to their compactness and decision-making) how did the Nobili Pieve perform in the tasting?
Good, very good. Who presented the Noble Pieve (qualitative tip of the appellation, as Consortium board members and the producers themselves are keen to point out) has a product that represents the company summit especially in the medium-small holdings, and all of them have a very well-characterized wine. A definite break with the past and a qualitative leap forward for the entire Nobile appellation..
The 12 Parishes
Of course, precisely defining the characteristics of the 12 Parishes and their organoleptic differences is premature and perhaps unrealistic, as there is no significant history and quantity of products to identify them, but what stands out is the difference between some of the Pievi’s areas.
Recall that we are talking about a territorial subdivision all within the Municipality of Montepulciano, and these are the Pievi identified, based on historical divisions and landscape units. In the northern area Abbey e Ascianello and to the far northeast, beyond the Val di Chiana, Valiano. To the east, looking across the Val di Chiana, Gracciano, Cervognano and Sant’Ilario (formerly known as Argiano). Around the town of Montepulciano, clockwise from the north: Le Grazie, Caggiole, Cerliana (which creeps between Gracciano and Cervognano pushing eastward), Valardegna and, to the west, San Biagio, the most extensive. Finally, to the south, St. Albino.
With the 2021 vintage, some Pievi are not even represented, some famous companies in Montepulciano do not have wines in the Pievi 2021 project but already with the next vintage, 2022, the number of samples could double with a good presence of historical “griffes” as well.
Our choices
Of the Pievi 2021 wines presented, we were particularly impressed by the following ones. These are wines that, in our opinion, succeeded in bringing into focus the potential of the wonderful territory of Montepulciano.
- Poliziano, Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve Caggiole 2021
- Tiberini, Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve Caggiole 2021
- Il Molinaccio, Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve Valardegna 2021
- Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano, Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve Cervognano Redi 2021
- Calimaia, Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve Cervognano 2021
- Talosa, Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve Le Grazie 2021
(Needless to mention the other vintages in the tasting, as they are wines that have not yet been bottled and will not be released for 18 months at the earliest.)
Bottom line, a beautiful collegial project, defined and enthusiastically pursued by all Vino Nobile producers, and a virtuous example of how a clear idea can be the glue of an entire territory and push producers in forward on the road to quality, which we found in the glass.
