SALVIONI 2017 Rosso di Montalcino DOC Tuscany Italy

91 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – Alessia Salvioni and her family did not make Brunello in 2014. Therefore, the only wine to taste during my winery visit this year was the 2017 Rosso di Montalcino. This is a charming and informal wine that reveals good volume and richness. The wine is redolent of wild cherry, blackberry and light touches of subtle spice. Nothing is out of place. The quality of the fruit depends on the older vines of the estate plus the thicker soils of the vineyards that are able to retain moisture even in warm vintages such as this. Careful fruit selection was implemented to achieve this quality.

Salvioni is a small winery located a few minutes north of the town of Montalcino in Central Italy. They produce two wines made from 100% Sangiovese, a Brunello di Montalcino made only in notable years, and a Rosso di Montalcino. Their first vintage was produced in 1985, and since that time they have had a singular focus to remain small, so each of their wines is exceptional every year.

David Salvioni farms 50 acres of grapes in the vineyard, La Cerbaiola. Three small parcels, each unique in their own, range in age from 10-25 years old. The soils range from chalky schist to stony marl. The work in the vineyard is done by hand and extremely low yields mean production is limited each year to allow only the best grapes possible.

In the cellar the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks for 28-30 days and then moved to age in large Slavonian oak casks. The Cerbaiola Rosso is aged for a year in cask and at least six months in the bottle before release. Eight to thirteen thousand bottles of Rosso are produced each year: less when the grapes are used for a Brunello release.

Monica Larner, writing for Wine Advocate Magazine, gave a thorough review of the 2017 vintage: “This is a charming and informal wine that reveals good volume and richness. The wine is redolent of wild cherry, blackberry and light touches of subtle spice. Nothing is out of place. The quality of the fruit depends on the older vines of the estate plus the thicker soils of the vineyards that are able to retain moisture even in warm vintages such as this. Careful fruit selection was implemented to achieve this quality.”

Detail Summary:

• Producer: Azienda Agricola La Cerbaiola di Salvioni Giulio
• Vintage: 2017
• Country: Italy
• Region: Tuscany
• Appellation: Rosso di Montalcino DOC
• Grape: 100% Sangiovese
• Sangiovese Biotype: Grosso
• Vine Age: 10-25 years
• ABV: 14%
• Owners: David and Alessia Salvioni
• Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY