2019 Carpineto - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva (750ml)

Carpineto was founded in 1967 and has become one of the defining names behind the modern revival of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a wine whose name recalls its historical role as the drink reserved for the aristocratic families of the Tuscan hill town. The estate has built its reputation on pairing respect for that centuries-old tradition with a willingness to refine winemaking practices, and this Riserva is produced entirely from fruit grown on Carpineto's own Montepulciano property.

The wine is based primarily on Sangiovese, known locally as Prugnolo Gentile, with small additions of Canaiolo and other authorized local varieties grown in the region's characteristically heavy, cool clay soils. The grapes macerate on their skins for ten to fifteen days, using gentle pumping methods designed to handle the skins and seeds without harshness. The wine then ages for roughly eighteen to twenty-four months in a mix of large Slavonian oak barrels and smaller French oak, followed by another year resting in bottle before release, the extended aging that earns it Riserva status.

In the glass it shows a brilliant ruby moving toward garnet, with an ethereal bouquet of violet, cherry, and toasted wood. The palate is dry and full-bodied, wrapped in a velvety texture with firm, structured tannins, and flavors of dark fruit, earth, leather, and tobacco carry through a long, savory finish. It pairs naturally with wild boar, aged pecorino, or a hearty beef stew.