Our wine year is beginning in a delicious way with the tasting of a late release Sangiovese. Not just any Sangiovese, but a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano crafted responsibly by a winery that takes its social commitments as seriously as its commitment to biodiversity and healthy soils. And the Avignonesi Nobile di Montepulciano Late Release 2015 wine bottle label, and packaging, is as beautifully artistic as is the wine. We received this wine as a gift from the winery.
Avignonesi’s modern history begins in 2009 when Virginie Saverys completed the purchase of Avignonesi’s vineyards and winery. Under Saverys’ direction Avignonesi’s vineyards were certified organic in 2016 and certified biodynamic in 2019. B Corp certification was earned in 2022.
I would describe winemaking as hands off, employing native yeast fermentations and mostly multiple-use oak vessels of varying sizes. One of the goals of the winemaking team is to reflect not only vintage variation, but the unique soil, elevation, and exposure of Avignonesi’s many vineyard plots.
So confident is the winemaking team of the quality of the estate’s Sangiovese, Avignonesi’s Nobile di Montepulciano is 100% Sangiovese when it need only be a minimum of 70% Sangiovese to comply with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG regulations.
The packaging and label for the Nobile di Montepulciano Late Release 2015 is illustrator Carlo Stanga’s reimagined Le Capezzine, “the symbolic site of Avignonesi and a historic model farm” according to the packaging text. Stanga’s illustration brings to life the hills of Montepulciano complete with vineyards, farms and farm animals. It’s so colorful and detailed.
2015 Avignonesi Late Release Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG — translucent ruby-garnet with aromas of dark cherries, alfalfa hay, and earth. Flavors include red and dark cherries, earth, dried herbs and hints of leather with fresh acidity and fine, well integrated tannins in a barely medium body. 14% ABV.
What a beautiful Sangiovese — still so light and fresh with silky tannins. Almost invariably after we taste a wine Pete offers a quick one-sentence review that is spot-on. After tasting this Nobile he said, “I would buy this wine just for the label, but the wine is also really good!” I agree, it is really good, and it remained so over the three evenings it took us to finish the bottle.
Based on previous tasting experiences I expected this wine would be delicious with a meal. Chicken cacciatore with cheesy polenta proved the perfect pairing. Delicious food and wine, and the detailed illustration on the label, gave us plenty to talk about over dinner.
Avignonesi offers a variety of wine tasting and dining options at Le Capezzine set in the beautiful hills of Montepulciano. See the website for details.
Thanks to Avignonesi for getting our 2026 wine year off to such a delicious start.
Cheers!
