IWR96
The 2014 Le Pergole Torte is a utterly fascinating wine from an exceedingly challenging vintage. While many across the region struggled with the growing conditions, this iconic estate in Radda-in-Chianti absolutely excelled with this simply beautiful Sangiovese. It immediately begins to impress with its striking aromatics of fresh red berries, herbs, wet stones and fresh florals which all take shape in the glass. It displays a lovely texture, with remarkable finesse and gorgeous underlying acidity keeping fresh and inviting. It continues to impress with its refined character along with outstanding overall balance and precision which persists through the long graceful finish. While the 2014 already shows signs of brilliance, it should certainly go on to have a fabulous evolution ahead. It’s nearly impossible to believe this came from a vintage that offered so many challenges.(International Wine Report)
RP93
The 2014 Le Pergole Torte has come together quite nicely since I last tasted this wine as a barrel sample shortly after the new year. The wine is now showing deeper dimension and a tighter textural constitution. Those aromas of wild berry, blue flower and crushed granite stone have come together with greater focus and precision. This wine represents a selection of the estate's best fruit. The integrity of its perfume and the brightness of the mouthfeel speak to the talented winemaking team at this celebrated winery in Radda in Chianti.
RP92-94
Planted in 1968, we are now coming up on the 50th birthday of the oldest vines that produce this venerated wine. The vineyard is located on the top of a perfectly round hill and with various replanting efforts over the years, the average age of the vines is 30 years old. This means they are in their prime. This is an elegantly etched red wine that opens to a dark ruby color and intense aromas of bright cherry, violets and balsam herb. At this young age, the wine has a very distinctively perfumed quality that resembles spring flowers or tropical fruit. I feel certain that these aromas will fade as the wine takes on more volume and aging evolution. Give it a few more years of cellar aging.
(RobertParker.com)
Very very Chianti-Classico-like wine is not Chianti Classico!?
MONTEVERTINE and MONTEVERTINE's LE PERGOLE TORTE are the best Sangiovese from Radda in Chianti. Although its taste embodies terroir of Chianti Classico and Sangiovese, those wines are not classified as DOCG Chianti Classico.
Another Super Tuscan?
Tignanello, Sassicaia, and Ornallaia are well known as an original Super Tuscan which are made of Bordeaux grape varieties such as Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot, or blend of Sangiovese and Bordeaux grapes. Indeed, these wines are out of criteria of DOC Italian wines in 80's.
On the other hand, MONTEVERTINE and LE PERGOLE TORTE are made from Sangiovese in Radda in Chianti. Why they are not DOCG Chianti Classico? Because when they started producing wine, they could not produce Chianti by red grapes only(10% of blending of white grapes was must for Chianti wine). However Sergio Manetti had recognized great potential of Sangiovese and he was convinced that the wine could be better by only red grapes. So he left from Consorzio Vino Chianti and went his own way. MONTEVERTINE created another type of Super Tuscan which is made from 100% Sangiovese.
In 1996, the DOC regulation had been changed. Chianti Classico obtained its DOCG individually, and wineries were allowed to produce Chianti Classico by only red grapes or 100% Sangiovese. But MONTEVERTINE didn't come back to DOCG Chianti Classico.
We can see the spirits of independency and non-compromise in wine of MONTEVERTINE. These wines are not easy-going and they are a bit stubborn and delicate. However, we would say drinking best condition of MONTEVERTINE is something special in our life.
MONTEVERTINE
- Sangiovese 90% Canaiolo + Colorino 10%
- Aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months.
LE PERGOLE TORTE
- Highly selected Sangiovese 100%
- Aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 18 months and for 6 months in Allier oak barriques.
- Produced in good year only.
- Art labels are painted by Alberto Manfredi(every vintage has different label).
