2015 Valentini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
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How full and heavy the wine feels in your mouth, like the difference between skimmed milk and cream. More alcohol, sugar and oak ageing make a wine fuller.
The drying, grippy feel on your gums and tongue, as with strong tea. It comes from the skins and seeds of black grapes and from oak, and softens with age.
How much sugar you taste, from dry to sweet. Fruity is not the same as sweet: a dry wine can taste of ripe fruit.
How fresh and juicy the wine is: acidity makes your mouth water. High acidity tastes lively and refreshing, low acidity soft and round.
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The bars follow how sommeliers taste (WSET): body, tannin, sweetness and acidity, each from low to high.
Body: full-bodied. Fuller than most red wines from ; 14% alcohol.
Tannin: firm. From ; aged in oak.
Sweetness: dry. Red wine from is almost always dry.
Acidity: fairly high. from the temperate climate of .
Aromas: earthy notes, dark fruit and spice, typical of
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Log inAzienda Agricola Valentini was founded in the early 20th century by Edoardo Valentini. Edoardo established the winery with a commitment to traditional winemaking methods and a focus on the indigenous grape varieties of the Abruzzo region. His dedication to quality and minimalist approach to winemaking laid the foundation for the estate's reputation for producing exceptional wines. Edoardo's son, Francesco Paolo Valentini, took over the winery and continued the family legacy. Under Francesco Paolo's leadership, the estate gained international recognition for its Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines. The winery's philosophy emphasizes the importance of expressing the unique terroir of the Abruzzo region and crafting wines with a sense of place.
Vinification at Azienda Agricola Valentini is deeply rooted in tradition and minimal intervention. The estate is known for its attention to detail, organic farming practices, and dedication to expressing the unique terroir of the Abruzzo region. The vineyards are planted with local grape varieties such as Trebbiano d'Abruzzo for white wines and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo for reds. Valentini's wines are typically fermented with indigenous yeasts and undergo long maceration and aging processes. The winery employs traditional winemaking methods, including the use of large Slavonian oak barrels for aging.
The Valentini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a powerful red wine with deep ties to the Abruzzo region and is considered one of Italy's most unique and expressive wines. Known for its limited production and uncomplicated, traditional methods, Valentini has achieved legendary status. The wine is characterized by intense aromas of ripe red and black fruit, spices, and a subtle minerality. Its complex flavor and lingering finish make this wine suitable for aging for several years, gaining depth and nuance.
The wine displays a rich and robust structure with a remarkable balance between acidity and tannins, ensuring freshness despite its intensity. Thanks to the long aging in large, used oak barrels and spontaneous fermentation, the wine retains its natural character and elegant flavor profile, making it highly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors. The 2015 follows the 2012 vintage.
This wine pairs perfectly with rich dishes such as braised meats, game, and aged cheeses. It is recommended to decant the wine a few hours before serving to allow the aromas to fully develop.
FACT: In the "Attachments" tab, you'll find the official fact sheet for this fine wine. We'll automatically send it to you when you order it. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount . You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others, via the links next to the image. This is a free service for our customers.
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Character
The wine
- 100%
Origin
Bottle
Wine features
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 94+
Reviewed by:
Monica Larner
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2020 - 2035
This is the first vintage of this wine to be released since we saw the 2006 edition. It's been way too long, I'd say. Slightly held back or restrained on first nose, the Valentini 2012 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo opens slowly and contemplatively to sensations of dark fruit, smoke, tobacco and cured meat. Despite the rather heavy and sun-drenched nature of that first wave of aromas, it's impossible to miss the enormous intensity and textural richness packed tightly underneath. That full-bodied power is a celebrated signature of this wine and is a consistent feature of past editions. Give the glass a few robust swirls and a second act is soon to follow. Those heavier dark fruit aromas magically lift to reveal an enormous color palette of camphor ash, saffron and wild licorice root.
I am long overdue for a vertical of Valentini that was first put off because of car troubles and is now deferred indefinitely because of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. I can tell you, however, that just as soon as my car and the virus permit, one of my first trips will be to the Abruzzo, if only to touch base with the beautiful territory that shapes this gorgeous set of wines from the iconic estate, Valentini.
Published: Apr 09, 2020
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James Suckling
Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2020
Thursday, May 30, 2024
CountryItaly
RegionAbruzzo
Vintage2020
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Score
97
Bright straw color with lime peel, green apple and chalky mineral character and straw undertones. Bone dry on the palate, with zesty acidity, great weight and almost salty lemon flavors. A touch of almonds filigreed to the structure. Tangerine and ginger undertones. So flavorful, tangy and electric at the end. The Coche Dury of Italy. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.
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Vinous
95+
Drinking Window
2024 - 2038
From: Abruzzo: Trials and Tribulations (Sep 2024)
More savory than sweet, the 2020 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo slowly opens with a rich blend of raw almonds and smoky crushed stone, giving way to dried nectarines and hints of sage. This seductress is ripe and succulent upon entry, yet with a salty, sultry core of minerality, blending sour lime with apricots and liquid stone. The 2020 ends with a lemony concentration and herbal thrust, tapering off saline and lightly structured yet incredibly fresh. The 2020 is simply spellbinding.
- By Eric Guido on July 2024
Another year has passed, and yet again, the Valentini family has decided not to produce any Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Francesco Valentini and his son, Gabriele, are adamant about not bottling Montepulciano unless it displays its traditional red color and doesn’t show any signs of over-ripeness, something that has not been achieved at this estate since 2015. Instead, the fruit is sold off. Last year, I tasted the 2022 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, yet unsurprisingly, there will be no 2023, as peronospora in 2023 seriously impacted the Montepulciano grapes, something made even more pronounced because of the low-intervention farming here. The family continues to work with Trebbiano, and thankfully so, because it remains one of the best of its kind. The bottle I tasted on this trip was revisited over the course of twenty-four hours and simply got better and better. The Valentini family still has its hands full, as it manages a fully functioning farm that covers over 250 hectares, of which 70% are vineyards. Olive oil is one of their major productions outside of wine and is widely available in Italy and worth seeking out.
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Azienda Agricola Valentini is a winery in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Perhaps one of the few wineries that have managed to create an Italian white "cult" wine.
History of Valentini
Azienda Agricola Valentini was founded in the early 20th century by Edoardo Valentini. Edoardo started the winery with a commitment to traditional winemaking methods and a focus on the indigenous grape varieties of the Abruzzo region. His commitment to quality and a minimalist approach to winemaking laid the foundation for the estate's reputation for producing exceptional wines. Edoardo's son, Francesco Paolo Valentini, took over the management of the winery and continued the family legacy. Under the leadership of Francesco Paolo, the estate gained international fame for its Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines. The winery's philosophy emphasizes the importance of expressing the unique terroir of the Abruzzo region and making wines with a sense of place.
A notable aspect of Azienda Agricola Valentini is its reputation for privacy and exclusivity. The winery is known for being discreet and not actively seeking publicity. Valentini wines have acquired a cult status among wine lovers and collectors with their limited production and exceptional quality. Valentini's Trebbiano d'Abruzzo in particular is described as a benchmark for what this grape variety can achieve. The winery's meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard and cellar, combined with long aging periods, contributes to the complexity, structure and age-worthiness of their wines. It is essential to note that Azienda Agricola Valentini operates in a traditional manner and information about the winery may not be as extensively documented or publicly shared as with some other producers.
Production of Valentini
The vinification at Azienda Agricola Valentini is deeply rooted in tradition and minimal intervention. The estate is renowned for its attention to detail, organic farming practices and its commitment to expressing the unique terroir of the Abruzzo region. The vineyards are planted with local grape varieties such as Trebbiano d'Abruzzo for white wines and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo for red wines. Valentini's wines are typically fermented with native yeasts and undergo long maceration and aging processes. The winery uses traditional winemaking methods, including the use of large Slavonian oak barrels for maturation.
Azienda Agricola Valentini is best known for its Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, a white wine made from Trebbiano. Valentini's Trebbiano is considered one of the finest expressions of this grape variety in Italy. The wine is known for its complexity, structure and ability to age wonderfully. Valentini also produces a Montepulciano red wine, which is highly regarded for its depth and longevity. Valentini's wines are often described as rare and difficult to obtain. The limited production, combined with high demand and the winery's reputation for quality, contributes to the rarity of their wines. The winery is known for only releasing wines when they believe the quality has reached its peak, and this can result in irregular release schedules. Due to limited quantities and high demand, it can be difficult to find Valentini on the market. Collectors and enthusiasts are often willing to pay big bucks for these rare bottles.
Deze krachtige Montepulciano presenteert intens rijp rood en zwart fruit, gerookte tonen van tobaccocrème en gezouten vlees, kruidige accenten van laurier en dropachtige mineraliteit, stevige maar rijpe tannines en een levendige zuurgraad die lengte en frisheid geeft. Daardoor past hij perfect bij rundvlees, wild, gerijpte kazen en stoofschotels: de tannines en zuurgraad snijden door vet en rijke sauzen, de geroosterde en kruidige smaken van de wijn versterken umami en game-achtige aroma’s. Gerechten als langzaam gestoofde sukadelappen of ossobuco, hertenbout met jeneverbessen, gegrilde entrecote of een kaasplank van oude Pecorino en Parmigiano brengen de mooiste harmonie naar boven; decanteer de fles enkele uren zodat de complexiteit en de subtiele ossige en saffraan-achtige tonen volledig ontvouwen.
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