On the Road with the Grape Guy
Anteprima: Vino Nobile Pieve (Inaugural Vintage)
09 Oct 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
The Opener ...
The renaissance of Vino Nobile is here. This once-proud wine had fallen on hard times; and now it's time to pick itself up off the mat, dust itself off, and get back in the fight.
The renaissance of Vino Nobile starts with the release of the new Pieve wines ... a single vineyard offering based on parishes or churches in the area (very Italian). This much-anticipated wine has been in the works for the past three years, and hyped every year until its launch this year. Twenty-seven wines were on the list and had their own tasting day, dedicated to its launch. Some (most) were “ready”, some were still "refining" in bottle, others pulled out a barrel sample.
Nothing here made my top rung, though plenty—nine—made the "better" category. And another baker's dozen made the "good" category. This is a wine that still needs time for both producers to find their style and consumers to learn about them... These are the growing pain years of new wine—just like Gran Selezione, these wines will rise to the level they want them—it will just take time.
Here are the wines that hit the target right out of the gate.
The Anteprima's Best
... The BETTER ...
Carpineto 2021 Pieve Sant'Albino - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (refining in bottle)
De' Ricci Cantine Storiche 2022 Pieve Ascianello - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (barrel sample)
La Ciarliana 2021 Pieve Cerliana - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Nice, ripe and juicy, but with the right amount of dark fruit; gentle and easy drinking, but with good backbone and structure.
Le Berne 2021 Pieve Cervognano - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
A little on the rustic side of things, but this is still a good bottle. The tannins and acidity play well together, the fruit is there and is fighting with the other two for dominance - interesting and intriguing to find which way this wine goes in the future.
Podere Tiberini 2021 Pieve Caggiole - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Nice fruit and spice - tannins are well-integrated - fruit is red cherry and bright, acidity is in check and helps this wine through on the palate.
Poliziano 2021 Pieve Caggiole - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Bright and very drinkable. Tannins are non-aggressive and the acidity sings across the tongue.
Poliziano 2022 Pieve Caggiole - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (refining in bottle)
Talosa 2021 Pieve Le Grazie - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Good spice and acidity with a fruit-forward way about it that melds the dark and red spectrum - pretty and elegant.
Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano 2021 Pieve Cervognano - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Soft and easy-drinking with notes of balsamic, black cherry, and strawberry - don't forget the gentle tannins, they won't forget you.
... GOOD ...
Antico Colle 2021 Pieve Cerliana - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Carpineto 2022 Pieve Sant'Albino - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (barrel sample)
De' Ricci Cantine Storiche 2023 Pieve Ascianello - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (barrel sample)
Fattoria Svetoni 2021 Pieve Cervognano - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Il Molinaccio di Montepulciano 2021 Pieve Valardegna - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Marchesi Frescobaldi 2021 Pieve Cervognano - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Tenuta Poggio alla Sala Soc Agr Srl 2021 Pieve Sant'Ilario - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
Tenuta Poggio alla Sala Soc Agr Srl 2022 Pieve Sant'Ilario - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (barrel sample)
Tenuta Valdipiatta 2022 Pieve Cerliana - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (barrel sample)
Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano 2021 Pieve Sant'Ilario - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (ready)
