At the heart of Tuscany lies the bucolic and picturesque appellation of Chianti, where an endless sea of gently-rolling vineyards stretches in every direction. Here, Montevertine is nestled amongst the sprawling vineyards, which produce concentrated fruit for classic expressions of stunning Sangiovese. Ever since Sergio Manetti purchased the estate in 1967, and produced his first vintage in 1971, Montevertine has had a cult following. The inaugural vintage wines were received so well at one of Italy’s top wine shows, Vinitaly in Verona, that Sergio quit his position as a manufacturer of steel products and set to making wine full time. He had a voracious appetite for winemaking, and began improving the estate right away by planting new vineyards and building a new cellar. In 2000, when Sergio passed away, his son Martino took over the estate. Assisted by Giulo Gambelli, the two have been producing incredible wines that have absolutely lived up to the bottlings produced by Sergio. The estate is strongly committed to tradition and to using classic Italian varietals, showcasing the beauty and depth of illustrious Sangiovese. For the 2011 Le Pergole Torte, Martino and Giulo source fruit from their oldest vineyard on the property, of which the wine is named after. This wine is undisputedly their top bottling and quite possibly the most profound Sangiovese I have ever tasted. This is a wine that is only made in the best vintages, and 2011 is a year to be reckoned with; this bottling has an energy and life to it that is indescribable. Once you taste it, you will see what I mean. Look up the review of any critic from around the world and you will quickly see that this wine was given only the highest praise, and for good reason.
The 2011 Le Pergole Torte has a dark ruby core that moves to orange and light garnet reflections on the rim. Complex aromatics explode from the glass, boasting concentrated aromas of rose petals, tar, leather, dried leaves, slightly dried plum and black cherry. These vivacious notes are mimicked on the palate with incredible structure. The old vines produce a richness of fruit that is incredibly well integrated amidst the earth notes and herbal qualities. The body is rich and powerful, seducing its taster with every sip. Although this wine is made well enough to enjoy right now, I strongly urge you to cellar this wine for as long as you can. If you can tuck this bottle away for a while, you will be blown away by its beauty when you open it in a decade from now.
