2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tenuta Valdipiatta

• Style: Structured Tuscan red
• Taste: Dark cherry, violet, spice with velvety tannins
• Food: BBQ & grilled dishes; stews & braises; game & venison; beef & steak
• Occasion: Sunday lunch; date night
• Serve: 16–18°C, decant 30 mins

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Deep ruby with immediate aromatics of black cherry and rose petal, lifted by violet and tobacco smoke. The palate is full and generous, with creamy tannins beneath a confident structure. No hardness — instead, a wine that settles into food with presence and backbone, offering the phenolic ripeness that the benign 2021 vintage bestowed on Montepulciano's Sangiovese.

The Winery — Tenuta Valdipiatta

Founded in 1973 and situated at the heart of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano zone, this 40-hectare estate has been guided since 2002 by Miriam Caporali, who enlisted renowned Bordeaux oenologist Eric Boissenot to oversee winemaking. The vineyards, planted between 300 and 350 metres on hillsides with deep marls and red sands, yield hand-picked fruit fermented at cool temperatures over 20–21 days. The wine splits between large Slavonian oak and French tonneaux for 18 months, then rests a further 18 months in bottle — a regimen that reflects decades of knowledge and respect for this storied site.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is the kind of red that shines with braised beef, wild boar, game, and even simple pasta with meat sauce. Serve at 16–18°C, allowing 30 minutes for decanting to reveal its full aromatics. The 2021 scored 97 at the Decanter World Wine Awards and 92 from James Suckling — recognition of both the vintage's favour and the estate's relentless pursuit of balance. If you're exploring Italy's great red wines, this sits among the finest expressions of what Sangiovese can achieve in its heartland. Organic certified, naturally corked, and drinking beautifully now — perfect for Sunday lunch or a memorable date night.