| SALCHETO
|
| Situated in the heart of the Montepulciano wine production area on an estate of 26 hectares, Salcheto leads the way in rejuvenating and re-establishing Vino Nobile wines to their rightful place within the Italian wine industry hierarchy. Its present owners, Cecilia Naldoni and Fabrizio Piccin, who bought the Salcheto vineyard in 1984 represent a new, young generation of viticulturalists who are dedicated to excellence at every stage of the production process. Iterestingly, Salcheto is one of just a handful of the 45 registered producers of Vino Nobile who insist upon using 100% of the local variety of the Sangiovese grape, the Prugnolo Gentile in production of their Vino Nobile. Although Montepulciano regulations permit 80% Prugnolo Gentile and 20% 'other' varieties, they maintain that this is the only way to express the true depth and character of this long-established and dignified grape variety.
|
The Wines
Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 1998
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 1995
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 1996
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 1993
Tasting Notes
|
Salcheto Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 1998 (13%)
Bottle Price £10.50
Case Price £126.00
|
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Richard Bampfield MW:
Bright, youthful colour. Soft, ripe plummy aromas, a touch creamy. Young, lively, chewy fruit, finely balanced acidity. Creamy texture on middle palate. A lovely juicy example, given grip by firm tannins and acidity.
|
|
Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano '95 (13.5%)
Sorry,
Sold Out
|
100% Prugnolo Gentile
Prugnolo Gentile, a Sangiovese clone,is grown in Montepulciano. Here, unlike in Chianti, it produces big powerful wines that have the capacity to age for long periods. This is a classic example of the style, quality and breeding that one can get from Vino Nobile.
It's pale mid-red colour has some purple on the rim. The abundant soft ripe fruit on the nose gives hints of blackcurrant, oak and vanilla. It is still tight and will develop nicely over time. The fine, ripe well-balanced flavours come through on the palate up to its long and full finish. It is very attractive and will grow in character as it ages. A very well made wine indeed which is good value for money.
|
|
Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano '96 (13.5%)
Bottle Price £14.50
Case Price £174.00
|
100% Prugnolo Gentile
The little estate of Salcheto just gets better and better. The only grape used in producing this wine is the Prugnolo, [the local name for Sangiovese Grosso]. The nobile refers to the tradition of ‘selecting’ only ‘noble’ grapes for the wine.
The bouquet of the ‘96’ is just as appealing as the ‘95’ but the palate still needs a couple of years to really soften out into those rich, warm mixed fruit flavours. A subtle hint of oak and vanilla shows the investment in French oak pays off. Well worth keeping for a few years but drinking well with any strong red meats.
Richard Bampfield MW:
Deep colour. Spicy, savoury aromas, sweetened by new oak, bold and enticing. Full bodied and flavoured, ripe fruit backed up by fine new oak. Well balanced, delicious example, will improve for another year or two.
|
|
Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva '93(13.5%)
Bottle Price £19.95
Case Price £239.40
|
100% Prugnolo Gentile
The Riserva wine of the Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano '93 shows the extra ageing in oak that it receives. It has the classic vegetal nose with spice and peppers. Almost Rhone like in style, it is ripe and plummier than the preceeding wine. Its very tight structure makes it a very substantial wine. The very dry tannic finish suggests that it needs keeping for a year or two before it will really show its best. A top flight wine.
|
|
|
