Montevetrano - Colli di Salerno Rosso 2002

Montevetrano - Colli di Salerno Rosso 2002 (93 TSW)

A couple of weeks ago we tasted this beauty in a blind tasting. We were positively surprised by the potential of this blend from the South of Italy.

Montevetrano winery is under the flag of of origin I.G.P. Colli di Salerno and counts 26 hectares. In 1983 Silvia Imparato started with 4 hectares which were in the hands of her parents  Since 2011, in addition to Montevetrano Rosso, a wine has been made with the name Core (heart) in white and red. The red Core consists entirely of Aglianico grapes while the white consists of Fiano and Greco.

The great world famous wine, however, is Montevetrano. The grape composition is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Aglianico. In 1989, barely 1000 bottles were produced, but now the total production is approaching 50.000 bottles. Sylvia doesn't want to get any bigger than this. They must remain handmade wines.

The vineyards are located in the province of Campania, relatively close to the coast (above the town of Salerno), which attenuates the intense heat slightly. Several hectares are located in a national park, called 'Monti Picentini'. Contemporary winemaking techniques are used. The destemmed grapes ferment in immaculately clean, stainless steel fermentation tanks. Reassembly is used to increase concentration. The fermenting juice is then pumped from the bottom of the tank over the floating shell mass. After this, the young wine goes to the barrel cellar where it matures in oak barrels, 50% of which are new each year. Depending on the year, the maturation period is 9 to 14 months.

My tasting notes:

In the glass a deep garnet red color.
On the mediun(+) nose aromas of blackberries, dark plums and black currants with hints of leather, graphite, musk, smoke and earthy hints.
On the palate dry, medium(+) bodied with medium acidity and nicely integrated medium tannins. Flavours are a recall of the nose with a nice long chocolate aftertaste.