Il Molinaccio La Spinosa Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017

Alana L rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Il Molinaccio La Spinosa D.O.C.G. 2017 (100% Sangiovese) – Il Molinaccio, sitting near the town of Montepulciano, is transitioning to certified organic and has a strong green philosophy including purifying their well water and installing a photovoltaic plant making them auto sufficient. Graceful, elegant and stylish, La Spinosa is delicate in colour (ruby red) and aroma. Notes of dark cherry, pepper, mushroom, coffee, leather and forest floor are all present, but delicate and balanced. It has harmony and structure and could age but is delightful now. The soils composed of a portion of broken fossils add minerality and salinity – a fresh ocean breath. Highly drinkable on its own, would pair beautifully with lighter meat dishes, any manner of olive-based sauces and veal piccata. Of the label, Il Molinaccio says ‘the porcupine is a shy and feared animal but La Spinosa, on the contrary, shows itself with an elegant dress’.

Tasted as part of this week’s virtual Vino Nobile di Montepulciano tasting, showcasing the 2016 and 2017 vintages, organized by the Italian Trade Commission and Consorzio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and hosted by Lauren Power.

Not to be confused with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (often budget-friendly reds made with Montepulciano grapes in the Abruzzo region), Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are premium (DOC, DOCG) Sangiovese-based red wines named after the town Montepulciano in Tuscany.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has a long, and storied, wine history closely associated with Italian nobility (it was only available on their tables) and became a controlled designation of origin (DOC) in 1966 and Italy’s first DOCG wine in 1980. These prized Tuscan wines owe their quality not only to the winemaker’s expertise, but also to the geological features of the vineyards (1,300 hectares are registered for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) situated between 250 and 600 meters above sea level. Vino Nobile wines must be made up of a required minimum 70% Sangiovese (called ‘Prugnolo Gentile’ in Montepulciano) and a maximum of 30% of other varieties authorized for the Tuscany Region. By law both vinification and ageing must take place in the municipal area of Montepulciano and must be aged for two years (three for Riserva) before being sold.

2017 is considered a 5 star year and was characterized by extreme hot and dry weather conditions that impacted vine growth and vineyard production and translated to a drastic reduction in yields (the lowest recorded in the last 70 years) resulting in wines that are intense in colour, concentrated, with darker notes and that are well-balanced in alcohol and acidy, complex and with significant tannins. An extreme year resulting in small yields of good and excellent quality wines.