Valori Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Doc 2018
Valori
“When you grow completely organically,” says Luigi Valori of Azienda Valori in Abruzzo, “an interesting thing happens to the grapes. The skins become very thick.” That’s more than an obscure botanical fact. It completely changes the potential of the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape.
Colour, tannin, and polyphenols all dwell in the skins of red wine grapes. More of those things make up for the shortcomings of mass-produced wine. Like many Italian wines, the reputation of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo suffers from a tradition of overproduction. Wines can still meet DOC standards while being grown at weights up to 10 kilograms per vine. Since the grape has naturally sweet and soft tannins, overproduction creates wines that are soft, flabby and don’t age well. But properly grown with a limited yield and vinted with care for its peculiarities, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo can be an elegant, structured, and noble.
A former professional footballer for Ascoli Calcio, Valori is a botanist by training. His vineyards in the commune of Teramo in northern Abruzzo near the Marche border are certified 100 percent organic. He has been producing wine on the estate since 1996. His yield is aaround 1.5-2 kilograms of grapes per vine/ In keeping with organic regulations, he treats the vines only with copper and sulphur. But he notes that grapevines find the copper mildly toxic. They react to it by forming slightly smaller berries with much thicker walls. By growing organic grapes with skins packed with tannins and polyphenols, Valori gives himself a leg up in the quest to make a great wine from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
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VAMO201812 UCAU
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Masciarelli Tenute Agricole was established in 1981 from the entrepreneurial intuition of Gianni Masciarelli. Gianni was a believer in the high quality of wines that could come from the diverse regions of Abruzzo, often overlooked by drinkers on the west coast and north of Italy. Valori is a small, family owned winery represented and distributed by the Masciarelli family. They have close family ties to each other.
Valori wines come from the western coastal section of Abruzzo, based around the town of Pescara, where the mountains meet the sea. This region is a popular tourist destination due to the abundant sunshine, sand and seafood from the Adriatic sea. The wines reflect this in their light, mineral body, warm but balanced flavours and exceptional acidity to match a diverse range of dishes. Wines are made by the ever-energetic Luigi Valori (former professional footballer for Ascoli Calcio). He has been producing wine on his family estate since 1996. His vineyards in the commune of Teramo in northern Abruzzo near the Marche border are certified 100 percent organic. He has been producing wine on the estate since 1996. His yield is around 1.5-2 kilograms of grapes per vine. In keeping with organic regulations, he treats the vines only with copper and sulphur. But he notes that(more...)
Masciarelli Tenute Agricole was established in 1981 from the entrepreneurial intuition of Gianni Masciarelli. Gianni was a believer in the high quality of wines that could come from the diverse regions of Abruzzo, often overlooked by drinkers on the west coast and north of Italy. Valori is a small, family owned winery represented and distributed by the Masciarelli family. They have close family ties to each other.
Valori wines come from the western coastal section of Abruzzo, based around the town of Pescara, where the mountains meet the sea. This region is a popular tourist destination due to the abundant sunshine, sand and seafood from the Adriatic sea. The wines reflect this in their light, mineral body, warm but balanced flavours and exceptional acidity to match a diverse range of dishes. Wines are made by the ever-energetic Luigi Valori (former professional footballer for Ascoli Calcio). He has been producing wine on his family estate since 1996. His vineyards in the commune of Teramo in northern Abruzzo near the Marche border are certified 100 percent organic. He has been producing wine on the estate since 1996. His yield is around 1.5-2 kilograms of grapes per vine. In keeping with organic regulations, he treats the vines only with copper and sulphur. But he notes that(more...)
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Scores & Reviews
94 / 100
Mark Faber
Bright, vibrant nose bursts from the glass with redcurrant and bramble notes, which translate well on the palate, supported by a chalky mineral line of acidity and a lacy frame of tannin. Ready to drink now but will age for a further 2-4 years.
90 / 100
Alistair Cooper MW
(2016 vintage) An absolutely delightful nose, showing hedgerow and juicy red and wild and spicy dark bramble fruits. Pure fine linear plate with excellent fruit and sculpted tannins. A light and vibrant wine showing delicious dark fruits with a coiled tight finish.
93 / 100
James Suckling
(2017 Vintage) Blackberries, cloves, smoked meat and some dried seaweed, too. It’s full-bodied and flavorful with wonderful depth of ripe black and blue fruit, as well as mineral and umami notes. Firm yet velvety tannins. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.