Poliziano Vino Nobile

~ Poliziano Winery ~

Poliziano traces its family roots back to Angelo Poliziano  - the classical scholar and poet of the Florentine Renaissance.  But it was a mere 47 years ago,  1968 to be precise,  that the first vintage of wine bearing the Poliziano name was released;  the Noble Wine of Montepulciano. 

Since that time, the Poliziano estate has grown to become one of the premier producers in Montepulciano and it's flagship Asinone regularly garners high praise.   Today we're focusing on Poliziano's  workhorse red;  the estate Vino Nobile. 

From 42 hectares of vineyards that sit at approximately 450 meters above sea level, come the Prugnolo Gentile for Poliziano's Vino Nobile.  Added to the blend is a 15% varietal mix that includes Canaiolo, Colorino and Merlot.  The wine is aged 2/3 in barrique and tonneaux and 1/3 in large cask and the French oak components are typically 80% second passage.

In the glass, the wine is a deep blackish plum color;  very dark.  Dark chocolate, new leather, black plum and cherry aromas pour from the glass and are easily discernible.   On the palate, the wine is round and ripe with intense flavors of chocolate covered cherry, sweet spices, leather and anise seed. Polished, with medium to full body,  this matched wonderfully with classic chicken cutlets and assorted vegetables.  Despite the ample structure from the acid frame in the wine, this portends to be a more modern approach to Vino Nobile. Though I am not certain, I suspect the 15% blend is mostly Merlot as the fleshiness and chocolate character of that grapes seems to be asserting itself in the finished wine.  Delicious, but maybe not the most typical example.  89 points.  About $22. 

~ 2012 Poliziano Vino Nobile alongside fried arugula fritters ~

E vero!