Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Il Nocio 2019 – Boscarelli.
The relatively small region of Tuscany called ‘Vino Nobile di Montepulciano’ has various top tier vineyards. ‘Il Nocio’ is one of them, and its wines are considered ‘a hug from a good friend’, an embrace in the form of something liquid, something beautiful.
In this review, we will discuss a 2019 ‘Il Nocio’, produced by Poderi Boscarelli.
About the Winery
Egidio Corradi’s dream became reality in the 60s when he initiated the Boscarelli philosophy by producing a noble wine in the Montepulciano region. The annual differences and small vineyards made it a remarkable challenge to make wine in the village.
Nowadays it is the third generation of the family that creates the wines and exultates it to the market. They use native varieties such as Mammolo Canaiolo and Colorino. In terms of cultivation, Boscarelli also utilises international varieties as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The latter are of course often used in the so-called ‘Super Tuscan’ wines.
Their intriguing respect for tradition and terroir, results in a range of wines true to type and needless to say; well-made. Boscarelli has grown out to be an award-winning winery by world renowned critics like Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, Decanter and James Suckling.
About the Vineyard
Boscarelli has owned this vineyard since 1988 and it covers around 4 hectares. It sits at an elevation of 280 to 350 meters, located in the commune of Montepulciano, thirty meters above the legal minimum elevation of 250 meters. Since 1991, it produces Sangiovese Prugnolo grapes for this wine. Annually, around 5,000 bottles are produced. Il Nocio’s soils offer a high alluvial content, together with sand and clay.
About the Wine
Every bottle of Il Nocio is aged separately in French or Slavonian oak, in which they age from 18 to 24 months. Afterwards, the wine is also aged for an additional year in bottle to achieve optimal ripeness. This is also in correspondence to the local legislation.
Wines labelled as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano must be aged in three methods:
- One to twenty-four months in wood
- Two to eighteen months minimum ageing in wood, the remaining time can be aged in another ageing vessel
- Three to twelve months minimum ageing in wood and six months in bottle, the remaining time can be aged in another ageing vessel.
This Il Nocio, made of 100% Sangiovese, shows a medium ruby colour, with a distinctive garnet edge. This always reminds us that this is indeed Sangiovese. The aromas here are interesting, and needless to say; complex! We find some sweet spice, cinnamon and soft herbs like tarragon. The blend of smoke, liquorice, dried and fresh black fruit makes this wine aromatically already very well-balanced. Nothing too much of anything, everything is just right. On the palate, the characteristic (almost crispy) medium acidity and fine-grained, medium, tannins make for a well-balanced wine. This beauty and elegance makes for a perfect gastronomical partner with dry aged steak and hard cheeses. We are also eager to see how this 2019 vintage will age. Evidently, this wine is outstanding.
We award this Montepulciano prince with a 95-point DWA score.
Tuscany, a Journey through Five Lenses
This review is part of our project “Tuscany, a Journey through Five Lenses”. In this project we travel through one of the most exciting parts of Italy and show its different faces interpreted through leading wineries. We do this through wine reviews, background articles and interviews.
The regions we discuss are Tuscany IGP, Chianti, Bolgheri, Montepulciano and Montalcino. Boscarelli is our guide through the Montepulciano appellation.
To stay updated about this special project subscribe to our newsletter, by clicking here. More information about the project can be found here.
Other wines we reviewed by Boscarelli:
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2019
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Sotto Casa 2019
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Costa Grande 2019
This wine is reviewed by our own Benjamin Roelfs. Boscarelli is imported in the Netherlands by Pallas Wines, and available through associated restaurants and retailers.
Price: €90,00
Taste date: July, 2023
Score: 95/100 DWA Score
Website: Poderi Boscarelli