Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
From Tuscany come most of our Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano questions
What is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a Tuscan red from the town of Montepulciano, made mainly from Sangiovese, locally called Prugnolo Gentile. It should not be confused with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which uses a different grape. The wine is dry and structured, combining cherry fruit, herbs, earth, acidity, and tannin with required aging.
What does Vino Nobile di Montepulciano taste like?
Expect red cherry, plum, violet, dried herbs, tobacco, leather, and earthy notes. It is usually medium to full-bodied, with Sangiovese's lively acidity and firm but measured tannin. Compared with Brunello, it can feel more moderate in power, yet it still develops savory complexity with bottle age.
How is Vino Nobile different from Montepulciano d'Abruzzo?
The Tuscan wine is made primarily from Sangiovese, while Montepulciano d'Abruzzo comes from Abruzzo and is made from the Montepulciano grape. The shared word refers to a place in one case and a grape in the other. Their flavor profiles, regions, and appellation rules are therefore quite different.
What food pairs with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
It pairs well with roasted pork, lamb, pasta with ragù, mushroom dishes, grilled sausages, and aged sheep's milk cheese. Its acidity handles tomato-based sauces, while its tannin fits protein-rich foods. Serve it slightly cool at 60 to 65°F. A young bottle may benefit from about an hour of decanting.