Vino Nobile,
Carmignano and Tuscany Odds &amp; Ends

Vino Nobile
and Carmignano are two of Tuscany’s most historic appellations. Sadly, both often get&nbsp;lost in the shuffle these days. Adventurous readers will find a wide range
of gorgeous wines here, many of which remain reasonably priced. This article covers
current releases from a number of Tuscany’s smaller, lesser-known appellations,
as well as other notable wines&nbsp;that have come across my desk recently.

<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1458232325324-Cover_Montepulciano.jpg">

Montepulciano is one of Tuscany’s
most charming hillside towns

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Wines of
note have been made in Montepulciano for well over a thousand years, a poignant
reminder how deep Italy’s wine culture runs, especially compared to regions and
countries whose history is fare more recent. Here, Sangiovese (known as
Prugnolo Gentile) yields, powerful, at times, rustic wines that find their peak
of expression in Vino Nobile. At their best Vino Nobiles have the dark, intense
richness that is found in Brunellos and Chianti Classicos from the southern
reaches of those appellations. In addition to their straight Vino Nobiles, many
producers make a Riserva and/or vineyard designated bottlings. At the other end
of the spectrum, Rossos from Montepulciano are both a great way to explore the
personality of Sangiovese here and also often terrific values. Lastly,
Montepulciano, one of Italy’s prettiest fortified hillside towns, is well worth
a visit on its own.

Two thousand
twelve is the best of vintages covered in this article. A dry year with a warm
summer produced a crop of wines endowed with notable richness and radiance, qualities that were accentuated by the
lower yields and high skin/juice ratios that resulted as the plants naturally
adjusted to the dry conditions and set a crop level they could ripen. Rains at the end
of the season do not appear to have had a negative effect on quality. So far, I
have only tasted a few wines from 2013, a late-ripening year. The entry-level
2014s show just how difficult that season was in Montepulciano, as it was
throughout most of northern Italy.

<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1458232359528-Poliziano.jpg">

Vineyards at Poliziano,
Montepulciano

Carmignano

Just north
of Florence lies Carmignano, another region that seems somewhat passed over these
days. That’s a shame, as the wines can be fabulous. Sangiovese (known as
Mammolo) is the workhorse here as well, but local producers have historically
incorporated Cabernet Sauvignon in their wines going back to at least the
1800s, far before the fashion of French grapes swept through Italy in the
1970s. Carmignano often includes Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc
alongside Canaiolo and Colorino, both indigenous grapes, but Sangiovese must be
at least 50% of the blend.

A great way
to explore Carmignano is through the entry-level Barco Reale wines.

<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1458232382563-RoccadOrcia.jpg">

Rocca d’Orcia, one of the small,
quaint villages in the Val d’Orcia

Val d’Orcia

The Orcia
Valley is another stunning collection of twisting roads, picturesque vineyards
and small towns. Depending on your exact location, Montalcino, Montepulciano
and a host of other villages are visible in the distance, lending an almost
surreal feeling to the landscape that is accentuated by the timelessness that
is felt in many spots here. The Orcia Valley feels more like a collection of
detached towns that lie outside of neighboring appellations than a unified
whole, so it is hard to define the wines in general terms today. Personally I
find this remote corner of Tuscany increasingly fascinating.

Most of the
wines in this article were tasted between August 2015 and February 2016.
Unfortunately a number of samples arrived damaged by heat, which required re-tasting
and caused this article to be published later than originally planned.You Might Also Enjoy <a target="_blank" href="http://vinous.com/articles/2011-brunello-di-montalcino-terroir-matters-feb-2016">2011 Brunello di Montalcino: Terroir Matters</a>,&nbsp;Antonio Galloni, Feb 2016 <a target="_blank" href="http://vinous.com/articles/2005-tuscany-ten-years-later-dec-2015">2005 Tuscany – Ten Years Later</a>,&nbsp;Antonio Galloni, Dec 2015 <a target="_blank" href="http://vinous.com/articles/on-the-tuscan-coast-new-releases-oct-2015">On the Tuscan Coast: New Releases</a>,&nbsp;Antonio Galloni, Dec&nbsp;2015 <a target="_blank" href="http://vinous.com/articles/chianti-classico-2013-2012-sep-2015">Chianti Classico 2013 &amp; 2012: The Luck of the Draw</a>,&nbsp;Antonio Galloni, Sep&nbsp;2015 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vinous.com/articles/val-d-orcia-montepulciano-carmignano-and-the-undiscovered-tuscany-oct-2014">Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano, Carmignano and the Undiscovered Tuscany</a>, Antonio Galloni, Oct 2014 -- Antonio
Galloni

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