Score: 93+/100
Viticcio winery’s range of wines is composed mainly of Sangiovese-based Chianti Classico wines, because the producer in located in this area.
But nowadays every ‘Cantina’ or ‘Fattoria’ in Tuscany now also has to produce a world-class more-modern style Super Tuscan wine.
This is what ‘Monile’ is for Viticcio, the only Super Tuscan in their offering, and not the least as we’ve discovered.
While many Super Tuscan wines marry Sangiovese with Bordeaux grape varieties, none of it here.
Monile is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Merlot from vineyards around the town of Greve in Chianti, first produced in 1988.
It was aged in barriques of 225 l for 18 months and then in large Slavonian oak barrels for a further 6 months.
Tasting Notes
This is seriously dark, red with hints of a purple hue on the rim.
Aromas are very intense and dark too. Even at first smell before swirling the wine, your nose’s smell buds are bombarded (in a positive way) with dark-roast coffee beans scents, vanilla, wood smoke, and rich ripe berry jam aromas.
Swirl the glass a little, and the individual fruity aromas are powerfully revealed. It’s filled with dark blackberry and cherry, blueberry jam, and raspberry. Loads of spices, sweet (nutmeg, clove) and lifted ones (black pepper) somewhat minty.
You’ve got the point, it’s very intense, complex and ripe-wine-like to smell. Very tempting for someone like me that likes his rich red with complexity. Teased curiosity then to find out what the wine has got to say on the palate!
The wine actually doesn’t disappoint. What strikes is the density of tannins here, but also the smoothness.
Tannic structure is very dense filled with fine oak tannins, and a rich oily texture that amplifies the impression of your palate being instantly coated in silk as soon as you put it in your mouth.
Good balance with solid acidity, stunning concentration.
Flavors like on the nose are aplenty: loads of dark red fruits, the whole spectrum of oak tones, lots of spices.
Overall
A satisfying rich red for lovers of powerful flavors, somewhat bold. Yet it has all the characteristics of a refined well-thought winemaking craft based on concentrated and very ripe fruit.
Some minerality and a solid acidity gives it personality within rich Super-Tuscan style, making for a very interesting experience.
When to drink?
This is young wine, that feels like it’s a baby, that should be able to age for a solid 10 years, given it’s concentration and acidity.
But its current smoothness three years into its aging potential, make it already very palatable and enjoyable for lovers of as-fresh-as possible fruity (and oak) flavors.
Wine & Food Pairing
We suggest you try this perfect matching recipe that perfectly pairs with Super Tuscan wines by Best Sommelier in the World Francois Chartier: Sandwich of Duck Confit, Nigella and Arugula
Enjoy. JM
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