2015 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Library Release)

The 2015 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is another super-attractive wine from Avignonesi. Wild cherry, tobacco, mint, dried herbs and dried cherry are beautifully delineated in this mid-weight, precise Vino Nobile. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, the 2015 is wonderfully deep and persistent, not to mention incredibly delicious. (AG)

Last year's 2014 Library Release was one of our favorite holiday finds, so when Avignonesi opened the cellar again for the 2015 we did not hesitate. We are the only store in the USA to have it. This is the estate's Vino Nobile held back ten years at the winery and released in a limited edition of just 9,340 bottles, each wearing a bespoke illustration by artist Carlo Stanga of Le Capezzine, the historic model farm at the heart of the property. It is a showstopper on the table. The wine inside is even better. 2015 was a five-star vintage in Montepulciano, a hot summer that Avignonesi handled by picking early to keep the freshness. The recipe is the house classic: 100% Sangiovese, biodynamically farmed, fermented on its own yeasts, 18 months in large Slavonian casks and French oak, then a decade of patience in the estate's own cellar. Galloni found it "wonderfully deep and persistent" on release, and time has only been kind to it. In the glass, it pours a deep garnet with a brick rim. The nose has settled into full maturity: dried cherry and plum, sweet tobacco, dried violet, orange peel and a touch of thyme. On the palate, it is broad and velvety, the tannins resolved to silk, with enough acidity left to keep it lively through a long finish of black tea and dried orange peel. Fully mature, ready tonight, no decanter required. Set it next to the roast bird, a wild boar ragù or the cheese board and watch it disappear. Ten-year-old Nobile from the winery's own cellar, in this vintage, at this price does not come around often. What a buy!