2012 Le Pergole Torte

Although there are many pedigreed wines in the world, some rise above that level and move into the stratosphere of the truly iconic. Montevertine’s Le Pergole Torte is one of those wines because it weaves together so many strands of history and culture. Le Pergole Torte is a wine of tradition and innovation. It is a wine that speaks to the potential of Sangiovese and the unique attributes of Radda. But above all else, Pergole Torte is a reflection of its creator. The late Sergio Manetti was an industrialist, an intellectual and a man of deep culture. His spirit permeates through these wines.

Do you want the good news or the less than good news first? Starting with the positive, 2013 is shaping up to be a magnificent, perhaps even epic, vintage at Montevertine. The 2013s are sublime. Warm days and cool nights were ideal for the gradual ripening of Sangiovese that can produce truly magical wines at this small property in Radda. Vintage 2012 was another story entirely. Late season weather was hot, humid and damp. Far from ideal, to say the least. Rain during harvest was the proverbial nail in the coffin for what has turned out to be an average vintage at Montevertine. In response to the delicate grapes, proprietor Martino Manetti opted for shorter maceration times. Production is down, most notably for the Pergole Torte, where rigorous selection took with it 30% of the potential yield. Still, there is no denying that an average vintage at Montevertine is the equivalent of a top year at so many properties.