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Home | Producers | Montepeloso

Montepeloso

www.rarewineco.com/html/impo/ital/mont.htm
Fabio Chiarelotto
Fabio Chiarelotto


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Montepeloso Info
Country of Origin: Italy
Location: Suvereto
People: Fabio Chiarelotto, Owner & Winemaker
Supplier: www.rarewineco.com/


From the beginning, Suvereto's challenge to Bolgheri—as Tuscany's premier source of Super Tuscans - has come from just two adjacent estates: Tua Rita and Montepeloso. The properties enjoy two of the best terroirs in Italy: Montepeloso on a gentle hillside of chalky gravel and clay, and Tua Rita in heavier clay below. Climatically warmer than interior Tuscany—and possessing a markedsimilarity to St. Emilion's famed Côtes—this locale naturally limits yields and is capable of producing wines with great concentration and perfume. Under the guidance of the original owners, Willi & Doris Neukom, Montepeloso established itself as one of Tuscany's most exciting estates, earning 5 stars from Robert Parker.

In 1998, however, the estate was sold to Fabio Chiarelotto, a Swiss-Italian historian. Chiarelotto was entranced with the Neukom's wines, but he was also convinced that they fell short of the terroir's true potential. While a unique site is important for great wine, an inspired winemaker is also required. The introspective Chiarelotto had little interest in the guidance of fashionable enologists. He was determined to follow his own path—and he brought with him a clear vision of the singular wines he felt the estate could yield. His obsession is such that we find few others with which to compare him. The person he most reminds us of is the great Montalcino iconoclast, Gianfranco Soldera. Like Soldera, Chiarelotto remains driven by his own philosophies, posssessing an obsessive commitment to quality, with an apparent disinterest in what others think of him or his wines.

Within a year of the purchase, Chiarelotto embarked on a dramatic overhaul of the vineyards— retraining or regrafting thousands of vines. He was willing to accept drastically reduced production for a few years if it would result in greater wines. In the cellar, Chiarelotto sought ways to soften the tannins, refine the aromatics, and better integrate the oak. With each succeeding vintage, he is getting closer to his ideal.

Slowly, Chiarelotto is receiving the rewards of his passion. The buzz that has been spreading through Europe over the past few years has lept the Atlantic. A growing number of collectors see Montepeloso's wines as the most beautiful, profound and expressive of the Tuscan New Wave:

Nardo—the premier Sangiovese of the coast, and one of the best in all Italy. It is an unfiltered blend of mostly Sangiovese with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Fewer than400 cases a year are produced.

Gabbro—THE great Cabernet Sauvignon of Suvereto, Gabbro has done for this variety what Tua Rita's Redigaffi did for Merlot. A decade from now, we would not be surprised to see Gabbro replace Sassacaia as the ultimate Tuscan Cabernet. A scant 200 cases are made.

Eneo—While the two luxury cuvées get much of the press attention, the Sangiovese-basedEneo has quietly achieved a rabid cult following of its own. Aged in 2nd and 3rd year French barrique, it is a pure expression of Chiarelotto's vision.

Production will gradually increase as young vineyards reach maturity. For now, these remain among Italy's elite rarities.
Items
Montepeloso 2008 A Quo Net Price Reviews —
Montepeloso 2006 'Eneo' IGT Net Price Reviews —
Montepeloso 2007 'Eneo' IGT Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Montepeloso 2008 A Quo
Rating: 90

The 2008 A Quo presents a heady array of super-ripe blueberries, blackberries, cassis, minerals and spices that come together in a luxurious, exotic style. There is plenty of round, harmonious fruit to provide outstanding balance, polish and length. The wine continued to open up nicely in the glass, gaining even greater focus and clarity. At this price point I would be a buyer by the case. The 2008 A Quo is 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Montepulciano, 20% Sangiovese, 10% Marselan and 10% Alicante Bouschet made from yields of less than 40 hectoliters per hectare, which is pretty much unprecedented for a wine at this price point. Chiarellotto gives the A Quo four months in used French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. I have been following these 2006s from Montepeloso and proprietor Fabio Chiarellotto for three years. Now that the wines are in bottle their true potential is clearly evident. It appears I underestimated the 2006s from barrel, as all three offerings are showstoppers of the highest level. My scores from bottle are in some cases significantly higher than from barrel. The 2007s are also very beautiful; in fact Montepeloso is one of a handful of estates where the 2007s are very close in quality to the 2006s. I tasted the 2007s as final blends just prior to their bottling. Chiarellotto believes his wines shut down for several months after bottling so with his 2007s he added the final dose of SO2 in two stages, in between which he prepared the sample bottles I received. I chose to score the wines in parentheses to indicate that technically they were not fully finished. If history is any indication, I have tended to err on the side of excess caution when judging the wines at this early stage in their lives. This year Chiarellotto also has a new, entry-level wine, A Quo, that is sure to thrill Montepeloso fans looking for an alternative to the higher-end bottlings. In short, these are marvelous Tuscan reds that readers will absolutely not want to miss.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2009)

Montepeloso 2007 'Gabbro' IGT
Rating: 94-96

The 2007 Gabbro (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) possesses awesome richness and purity in an incredibly vibrant, well-articulated style. Today the wine remains extremely youthful and unevolved, although hints of varietal dark fruit, blueberry jam, licorice, leather, cassis and minerals occasionally come through on the long finish. This is a seamless, opulent Gabbro, and while the 2007 may lack some of the structure and complexity of the 2006, it isn’t too far off the mark from that profound wine, and should provide more pleasure in the immediate future. In a few years’ time, the 2007 Gabbro promises to be a superb, kaleidoscopic Tuscan red. In 2007 yields were around 25 hectoliter per hectare and the wine was aged in 100% new French oak, which is beautifully integrated, even at this early stage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2027. I have been following these 2006s from Montepeloso and proprietor Fabio Chiarellotto for three years. Now that the wines are in bottle their true potential is clearly evident. It appears I underestimated the 2006s from barrel, as all three offerings are showstoppers of the highest level. My scores from bottle are in some cases significantly higher than from barrel. The 2007s are also very beautiful; in fact Montepeloso is one of a handful of estates where the 2007s are very close in quality to the 2006s. I tasted the 2007s as final blends just prior to their bottling. Chiarellotto believes his wines shut down for several months after bottling so with his 2007s he added the final dose of SO2 in two stages, in between which he prepared the sample bottles I received. I chose to score the wines in parentheses to indicate that technically they were not fully finished. If history is any indication, I have tended to err on the side of excess caution when judging the wines at this early stage in their lives. This year Chiarellotto also has a new, entry-level wine, A Quo, that is sure to thrill Montepeloso fans looking for an alternative to the higher-end bottlings. In short, these are marvelous Tuscan reds that readers will absolutely not want to miss.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Montepeloso 2007 Nardo
Rating: 93-95

The 2007 Nardo is incredibly alive and vivid in the glass. The wine literally sparkles on the palate with a level of clarity that is exceedingly rare in this vintage. Super-ripe red cherries, licorice and spices emerge in a style that shows tons of concentration while somehow avoiding any sense of heaviness. Nardo is impeccably balanced throughout and shows awesome harmony in its opulent yet well-defined aromas and flavors. Simply put, this is elegance personified. In 2007, yields were minuscule, and came in at under 25 hectoliters per hectare. The final blend was 35% Montepulciano, 35% Sangiovese, 22% Marselan and 8% Alicante Bouschet. The wine was aged in a combination of new and old barriques and larger demi-muids. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2027. I have been following these 2006s from Montepeloso and proprietor Fabio Chiarellotto for three years. Now that the wines are in bottle their true potential is clearly evident. It appears I underestimated the 2006s from barrel, as all three offerings are showstoppers of the highest level. My scores from bottle are in some cases significantly higher than from barrel. The 2007s are also very beautiful; in fact Montepeloso is one of a handful of estates where the 2007s are very close in quality to the 2006s. I tasted the 2007s as final blends just prior to their bottling. Chiarellotto believes his wines shut down for several months after bottling so with his 2007s he added the final dose of SO2 in two stages, in between which he prepared the sample bottles I received. I chose to score the wines in parentheses to indicate that technically they were not fully finished. If history is any indication, I have tended to err on the side of excess caution when judging the wines at this early stage in their lives. This year Chiarellotto also has a new, entry-level wine, A Quo, that is sure to thrill Montepeloso fans looking for an alternative to the higher-end bottlings. In short, these are marvelous Tuscan reds that readers will absolutely not want to miss.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Montepeloso 2007 'Eneo' IGT
Rating: 91-93

The 2007 Eneo shows remarkable detail, clarity and freshness in its red cherries, flowers, sweet tobacco and licorice. In 2007 Eneo is surprisingly open, perfumed and accessible, with a seamless quality that softens some of the linearity that the wine typically shows at this stage. The finish is best described as long, pure and exceptionally silky, with subtle nuances of sweet tobacco, earthiness and crushed flowers that linger on the palate. Eneo is 40% Montepulciano, 25% Sangiovese, 25% Marselan and 10% Alicante Bouschet that was aged in used French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. I have been following these 2006s from Montepeloso and proprietor Fabio Chiarellotto for three years. Now that the wines are in bottle their true potential is clearly evident. It appears I underestimated the 2006s from barrel, as all three offerings are showstoppers of the highest level. My scores from bottle are in some cases significantly higher than from barrel. The 2007s are also very beautiful; in fact Montepeloso is one of a handful of estates where the 2007s are very close in quality to the 2006s. I tasted the 2007s as final blends just prior to their bottling. Chiarellotto believes his wines shut down for several months after bottling so with his 2007s he added the final dose of SO2 in two stages, in between which he prepared the sample bottles I received. I chose to score the wines in parentheses to indicate that technically they were not fully finished. If history is any indication, I have tended to err on the side of excess caution when judging the wines at this early stage in their lives. This year Chiarellotto also has a new, entry-level wine, A Quo, that is sure to thrill Montepeloso fans looking for an alternative to the higher-end bottlings. In short, these are marvelous Tuscan reds that readers will absolutely not want to miss.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2009)

Montepeloso 2006 'Eneo' IGT
Rating: 91-93

Barrel Review. Montepeloso’s 2006 Eneo couldn’t be more different in its personality than the 2005. It reveals awesome richness and plumpness in its vibrant dark cherries, earthiness, minerals and chocolate. This is a structured, taut Eneo that is holding much of its power in reserve. It is also the most linear of these 2006s and the hardest to fully grasp at this young stage, but readers who are patient will be amply rewarded. In 2006 Eneo is roughly 40% Sangiovese, 40% Montepulciano and 20% Alicante. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018 . Suvereto is one of the warmer micro-climates in Tuscany’s Maremma. Growers here can easily achieve ripeness and make big, full-bodied wines. Elegance, on the other hand, is much more elusive. I can’t think of too many other producers who manage to reconcile these two seemingly disparate characteristics better than proprietor Fabio Chiarelotto at Montepeloso. The winery is as bare-bones as readers are likely to find anywhere, yet some of the region’s most finessed wines come from these cramped quarters. Chiarelotto’s 2005 are very successful, but his 2006s are simply off the charts. In fact they have remained almost as fresh and primary as they were when I first tasted them from tank late that year! The 2006s reviewed below are samples of the final blends taken as the wines awaited imminent bottling. If the finished wines capture the essence of what I tasted, these will be the finest wines yet from Montepeloso. Readers should note that Chiarelotto is always hesitant to discuss the exact blends in his wines as he feels those discussions take attention away from the specific merits of the terroirs he works with, so the descriptions of the grapes in these wines should be taken as an approximation.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2008)

Montepeloso 2006 'Gabbro' IGT
Rating: 93-96

Barrel Review. Hard as it may seem to believe, the 2006 Gabbro is even better. Even at this painfully young stage, it presents breathtaking continuity and length on the palate, as seamless, perfumed fruit is gorgeously framed by big, yet refined tannins. From start to finish this is an impressively endowed wine, with layers of richly-textured dark fruit, smoke, cassis, blackberries, mint, graphite and minerals. It is reminiscent of a Serralunga Barolo in the way it marries power with elegance, the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. The wine’s opulence and ripeness will tempt readers to drink it young, but this Gabbro has the stuffing to go the distance. It is breathtaking. Gabbro is 100% old vine Cabernet Sauvignon Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. Suvereto is one of the warmer micro-climates in Tuscany’s Maremma. Growers here can easily achieve ripeness and make big, full-bodied wines. Elegance, on the other hand, is much more elusive. I can’t think of too many other producers who manage to reconcile these two seemingly disparate characteristics better than proprietor Fabio Chiarelotto at Montepeloso. The winery is as bare-bones as readers are likely to find anywhere, yet some of the region’s most finessed wines come from these cramped quarters. Chiarelotto’s 2005 are very successful, but his 2006s are simply off the charts. In fact they have remained almost as fresh and primary as they were when I first tasted them from tank late that year! The 2006s reviewed below are samples of the final blends taken as the wines awaited imminent bottling. If the finished wines capture the essence of what I tasted, these will be the finest wines yet from Montepeloso. Readers should note that Chiarelotto is always hesitant to discuss the exact blends in his wines as he feels those discussions take attention away from the specific merits of the terroirs he works with, so the descriptions of the grapes in these wines should be taken as an approximation.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2008)

Montepeloso 2006 Nardo
Rating: 92-95

Barrel Review. The 2006 Nardo is poetry in a glass. There is superb tension in its balance of fruit and structure, as suggestions of smoke, ash, tar, black cherries, blackberries, cassis, licorice and wild herbs emerge from its large-scaled frame. It, too, will require quite a bit of patience, but there is a rewarding core of perfumed, ripe fruit waiting to emerge from the wine’s massive tannins. This is an awesome effort from Fabio Chiarelotto. In 2006, Nardo is mostly Montepulciano and Sangiovese. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. Suvereto is one of the warmer micro-climates in Tuscany’s Maremma. Growers here can easily achieve ripeness and make big, full-bodied wines. Elegance, on the other hand, is much more elusive. I can’t think of too many other producers who manage to reconcile these two seemingly disparate characteristics better than proprietor Fabio Chiarelotto at Montepeloso. The winery is as bare-bones as readers are likely to find anywhere, yet some of the region’s most finessed wines come from these cramped quarters. Chiarelotto’s 2005 are very successful, but his 2006s are simply off the charts. In fact they have remained almost as fresh and primary as they were when I first tasted them from tank late that year! The 2006s reviewed below are samples of the final blends taken as the wines awaited imminent bottling. If the finished wines capture the essence of what I tasted, these will be the finest wines yet from Montepeloso. Readers should note that Chiarelotto is always hesitant to discuss the exact blends in his wines as he feels those discussions take attention away from the specific merits of the terroirs he works with, so the descriptions of the grapes in these wines should be taken as an approximation.

- The Wine Advocate (6/1/2008)

Montepeloso 2006 Nardo
Rating: 96

Bottle Review. The 2006 Nardo possesses the essence of melted road tar, bacon fat, smoke, ripe red cherries and spices. The Nardo is the most linear and sinewy of the 2006s but it continues to grow in the glass as its inner core of perfumed red fruit gradually emerges. This structured, brooding red finishes with incredible purity and length. Today the wine is holding back much of its potential, but readers who can be patient will be rewarded with a breathtaking wine. Simply put, this is gorgeous stuff. In 2006 Nardo is 50% Montepulciano, 30% Sangiovese and 20% Marselan. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.

- The Wine Advocate (1/1/2009)

Montepeloso 2006 'Eneo' IGT
Rating: 95

The 2006 Eneo has developed beautifully since it was bottled. It is a remarkably soft-textured, seamless wine loaded with black cherries, blackberry jam, mint, tar and graphite in a vibrant and utterly spellbinding style. The wine’s sheer extract covers the potent yet silky tannins that lie beneath. Clean, minerally notes linger on the long, satisfying finish. This is a spectacular effort. In 2006 Eneo is 40% Montepulciano 40% Sangiovese, 10% Marselan and 10% Alicante. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026

- The Wine Advocate (1/1/2009)

Montepeloso 2006 'Gabbro' IGT
Rating: 97

The 2006 Gabbro (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a spectacularly ripe, opulent wine endowed with layers of fresh dark cherries, blackberries, smoke, minerals and French oak. This primary, dense wine exudes profound balance in all of its components, with phenomenal length on the palate and spellbinding purity in its fruit. The tannins build on the finish, suggesting the wine needs at least several years of aging before it offers its fines drinking. This is another superb achievement from Montepeloso. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026

- The Wine Advocate (1/6/2009)

Montepeloso 2005 'Eneo'IGT
Rating: 90

Very ripe, with prune, berry and light toasty oak aromas. Full-bodied, with juicy fruit and a long, caressing finish. Sangiovese, Colorino and Merlot.

- The Wine Spectator (10/15/2008)

Montepeloso 2005 'Gabbro'IGT
Rating: 93

Expressive aromatics meld into layers of black cherries, violets, chocolate, new leather and spices, with terrific persistence and plenty of style. This is a rich, full-bodied wine, but it comes across as remarkably well-balanced. Gabbro is 100% old vine Cabernet Sauvignon.

- The Wine Advocate (05/01/2006)

Montepeloso 2005 'Eneo'IGT
Rating: 90

Floral notes of smoke, tobacco, red cherries and sweet herbs. There is lovely balance here as the wine possesses well-integrated tannins and outstanding length.

- The Wine Advocate (05/01/2006)

Montepeloso 2005 'Nardo'IGT
Rating: 92

Nardo presents a lovely vein of minerality that supports vibrant red cherries, smoke and earthiness. Medium in body with well-integrated tannins, it possesses gorgeous inner sweetness and perfume that carries through all the way to the finish. This superb juice.

- The Wine Advocate (05/01/2006)