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Dear Artisans,
We are thrilled to share this stunning Super-Tuscan steal that was the best seller of last Saturday's in-store tasting. Truly a "superb" wine according to Vinous, here's what reviewer Antonio Galloni had to say about the winery:
"Montepeloso is one of the most exciting and dynamic estates on the Tuscan coast. Stylistically, the wines have undergone quite an evolution here in recent years. Harvest is now typically at the end of August and early September, a good 10-15 days earlier than in the early days. Proprietor Fabio Chiarelotto has also shortened time in barrel, another choice that has left the wines with greater energy than in the past. Lastly, Chiarelotto removed Montepulciano from his Eneo and Nardo blends and replaced it with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon."
The estate is a neighbor to the mighty cult producer Tua Rita in the tiny town of Suvereto, just 32 km south of Bolgheri (Sassicaia, Ornellaia). While Tua Rita's flagship wines command prices ringing from $260 to $430, we're blown away by how similar Montepeloso's wines are.
History: The winery was purchased in 1998 by Fabio Chiarelotto, a trained historian, who took a page from one of his history books to begin reshaping the estate. Foreign varieties were slowly replaced with local varieties and/or heritage clones that were more closely in tune with his vineyards, going back to the original Etruscan. He focused on healthy cultivation of his vineyards, and finding a balance for the vines that would allow them to thrive in Suvereto’s warm, dry summers. While early progress was steady, the 2006 vintage marked the beginning of this estate’s “mature phase.” The vineyards were finally rehabilitated, and Fabio had settled on a mix of varieties that expressed the essence of Montepeloso—many of them varieties that the ancient Etruscans cultivated on these very hills. His experiments in winemaking and élévage had shown him the right balance for each wine, and it shows in this wine: the estate’s grand vin, Eneo, is Fabio’s distillation of all that he’s learned.
Fortunately for us all, it is - as Wine Advocate's review points out - accessible, both in terms of drinkability and, thanks to the rather large production, availability. So order one of these limited treats today - you'll be glad you did!
Ciao,
—James Tran
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