A bottle of 2011 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte, empty before its time.

Montevertine Le Pergole Torte is a storied wine, often called on the world’s finest. It’s 100% Sangiovese. The grapes are from the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, but the wine is simply labeled Toscana IGT. Montevertine relies on their own respected brand as do Super Tuscans. However, Super Tuscans typically incorporate high-percentages of Bordeaux varieties which is not at all what Montevertine is about.

The Le Pergole Torte vineyard was planted in 1968 and the wine was a single-vineyard product for many years. For some time though, Le Pergole Torte wine is a blend of carefully selected Sangiovese from Montevertine’s various estate vineyards.

2011 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT

In general, these are wines of purity and grace. A sip, immediately after the wine was poured into a decanter, was lively with red cherries, subtle spice and accents of oak. It was lithe and juicy in the mouth.

But this is a very young wine by LPT standards. The first sip barely hints at the structure which lies beneath. That is soon apparent. As the wine breathes in glass or decanter, the fruit starts to play hide-and-seek. It clothes itself in a substantial blanket of very fine, but firm, chalky tannin.

Even on the second day, tannins remain dominant. The fruit is a red sports car which you see in flashes from behind a picket fence. Below, I say decanting is optional. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. This is a tremendous bottle of wine which simply needs some years of good cellaring.

Now, the nose shows gently baked red cherry, plum, cinnamon, brown spice and aged wood. Flavors match the nose, fruit-centric and accented by spice. Wood on the palate is younger and sweeter. The finish is cut short by tannins but, with some unctuous braised meat, should extend substantially and feature a rich, creamy mouthfeel.

Rating: 95
Drink: 2020 through 2032
Closure: Cork
Retail Price: $125

Details

Winemaker: Giulio Gambelli
Blend: 100% Sangiovese
Origin: Various Montevertine estate vineyards, including Le Pergole Torte, in the vicinity of Radda (Chianti Classico, Tuscany)
Fermentation: 25 days in cement vats
Aging: 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels of various sizes, then 6 months in standard French oak barrels
Alcohol: 14.0%

Service Recommendations

Decanting: Optional
Temperature: 61°–65° F
Food pairing: Very slowly braised beef cheeks or short ribs.

Text and photo copyright Fred Swan 2016.  All rights reserved.