Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: 10 Best Wines, Tasting Notes

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine that hails from the town of Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy.  This classic Tuscan wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape variety and small amounts of other local varieties like Canaiolo Nero and Mammolo. 

It usually exhibits a subtle earthy aroma with juicy black cherry, plum, and dark berry flavors. 

In this article, we’ll explore the characteristics of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and 10 exceptional wines to buy in 2023. 

We’ll also suggest great food pairings and highlight some of the other wines made in the Montepulciano region before jumping into the history of this delicious wine. 

Characteristics of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a medium-bodied, ruby red wine with high acidity and vibrant fruit flavors. 

It comes in two main styles - dry and sweet (also known as Vin Santo.)

For a wine to be Vino Nobile di Montepulciano it has to:

• Have an ABV between 11.5-14%
• Contain at least 70% Sangiovese grape varietal (also known as Prugnolo Gentile grape varietal) and 30% of other local grape varieties
• Be aged for at least one year in oak barrels and one year in the bottle (Riserva wines must be aged for 3 years) 

Does a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano age well?

You could enjoy this wine immediately after release. However, the finest vintages can benefit from aging between five to 20 years. This will enhance the wine’s earthy aroma and candied fruit flavor. 

Now, don’t confuse Vino Nobile di Montepulciano with Montepulciano dAbruzzo.

What is the difference between Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Montepulciano dAbruzzo?

People often mix up the two wines because they share the Montepulciano name which refers to both a town in Tuscany and a grape variety.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano gets its name from the medieval town in south-east Tuscany where it is produced. 

Montepulciano dAbruzzo is a red wine made from the Montepulciano grape in the Abruzzo region of east central Italy. 

10 Exceptional Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Wines to buy in 2023

Now let’s look at ten outstanding Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines and their tasting notes:

• Poliziano Le Caggiole, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2015
• La Braccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Italy 2017
• Boscarelli 'Nocio dei Boscarelli', Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy  2013
• Poliziano Asinone, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2013
• Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy 2017
• Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2015
• Avignonesi 'Poggetto di Sopra', Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2016
• Avignonesi 'Caprile', Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2016
• La Ciarliana Vigna Scianello, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2015
• Il Conventino Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG 2016

1. Poliziano Le Caggiole, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2015 ($94)

This divine ruby red wine is made with grapes cultivated from Poliziano’s Montepulciano vineyard. It’s bold and acidic but well-balanced with initial plum notes and red fruit flavors. The enticing vanilla, oak, and tobacco aromas give way to hints of black cherry, cranberry, and a long, satisfying finish. 

2. La Braccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Italy 2017 ($20)

Here we have a bold earthy red wine with lively acidity and plush tannin mouthfeel. This delicious wine has hints of oak, tobacco, and subtle cherry, red fruit, and black cherry flavors. The finish is lovely and smooth.

3. Boscarelli 'Nocio dei Boscarelli', Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy  2013 ($89)

This medium-bodied Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has silky tannins, crisp acidity, ripe berry aromas, and a dried cherry flavor with plum and earthy notes.

4. Poliziano Asinone, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2013 ($46)

Here’s another superb red wine with bright acidity. This wine boasts oak, spice, and vanilla aromas, earthy notes, and decadent dark fruit tasting notes.

5. Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy 2017 ($12)

Here’s a medium-bodied wine with rich acidity, intense color, well-rounded nose. The evident fruity notes evolve into delicate hints of oak, earth, and tobacco. 

6. Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2015 ($38)

This pale garnet-colored wine has hints of vanilla, oak, and tobacco with cherry, red fruit, and strawberry flavors. The finish is long with leather, balsamic, and mushroom notes. 

7. Avignonesi 'Poggetto di Sopra', Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2016 ($64)

Here we have a wine with bright acidity and a fragrant bouquet of ripe fruit and cherries. There are also hints of lavender, thyme, and wild mint with silky tannins and a velvety spice finish.

8. Avignonesi 'Caprile', Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2016 ($49)

This bold wine has a deep and complex bouquet of dark fruit and a slightly smoked wood flavor. There’s an intense floral note with an enticing peony aroma. 

9. La Ciarliana Vigna Scianello, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Italy 2015 ($31)

Here we have a Tuscan wine with a good concentration of cherry, strawberry, and red fruit flavors. The intense fragrant aroma reveals hints of chocolate and tobacco, which give way to a lovely rounded finish. 

10. Il Conventino Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG 2016 ($41)

This wine has tobacco, oak, and vanilla notes followed by pronounced black cherry and plum flavors. Although it exhibits evident fruity notes, this wine has a distinct savory flavor, with a long, complex finish.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Food Pairing Suggestions

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano's high tannin levels and mouthwatering acidity pair well with grilled and roasted red meat dishes, particularly beef, wild boar, and lamb.

You could also pair a bottle of delicious Vino Nobile di Montepulciano with:

• Tomato-based sauce dishes
• Wild boar ragu
• Tuscan dishes like sausage and bean stew

Other Wines Made in Montepulciano

The town of Montepulciano produces several different wines, including:

• Vino Novello: A light, fruity red wine with low alcohol content  
• Rosso di Montepulciano: An easy-drinking red wine with made with Sangiovese and Canaiolo Nero 
• Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva: A Nobile wine that has been aged for three years or more and produced with superior quality grapes

Brief History of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

In the 1700s the wine was one of the most popular wines in Tuscany and the writer and poet Francesco Redi even praised it as “The King of all Wines”.

Up until the 1920s, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano was officially known as “Vino rosso scelto di Montepulciano”. In 1925, Adamo Fanetti invented the name Vino Nobile di Montepulciano when he labelled his wine “nobile” (meaning noble.) 

After World War II, the wine was marketed globally. Other companies who had previously produced mainly Chianti Classico wines followed Adamo's example and began producing Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. This led to the creation of a 'Cantina Sociale' (Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano) in 1937. 

In 1966, the wine obtained DOCG status. 

Savor The Luscious Wines of Tuscany!

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is an iconic, Italian wine that everyone’s sure to love. This tantalizing, dry, and acidic wine is perfect for a casual dinner at home or on a special occasion. 

While you could enjoy a bottle of this easy-drinking wine today, some of the finest bottles can also benefit from up to twenty years of aging. This will enhance the color, aroma, and flavors. 

Meanwhile, if you’re a wine enthusiast looking for an investment-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, or any other fine wine instead, check out Vinovest. It’s a leading wine investment platform that helps you easily buy, store, and sell fine wines from around the world.