Boscarelli, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Tuscany, Italy) 2009

This single vineyard Sangiovese-based wine shows the potential and glory of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.  Its explosive dark cherry-like flavors are balanced–and indeed, enhanced–by a firm minerality.  It’s paradoxically both austere and mouth-filling.  As good as Boscarelli’s regular Vino Nobile is, the Noci just has more of everything without being overdone or overblown.  A vertical tasting of the Noci back to the 1983 vintage held at the estate last year, showed how beautifully these wines develop.  The 2009, from a great vintage, should develop beautifully given its ripeness, structure and balance, so this is one for the cellar, not tonight’s dining table.