I had the pleasure of being invited by Mrs. Liviana Manetti to a lunch held at the “Onde” restaurant in the splendid Four Seasons Hotel in Florence.
The guests must have been around twenty, all friends of Liviana and Martino Manetti, owners of the Tuscan Montevertine company. The official reason for the invitation was to be together with friends who love the wines produced by the Montevertine company.
The “Onde” restaurant is located in the beautiful park of the Hotel and is located in a splendid greenhouse.
At the reception we were served, in the garden, Bollinger brut special cuveé champagne with a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier. A very pleasant aperitif sipped outdoors under a sun that is anything but November.
After the aperitif we went to the adjacent “Onde” restaurant where we were immediately served the 2013 vintage Montevertine wine which was accompanied by the “warm Mediterranean rabbit with its livers, watercress and roasted sauce”. Next we were served the 2010 vintage Pergole Torte which was combined with “braised muscle tortelli, wild herb butter and cooked boiled meat sauce”, this dish, like the first, went perfectly with the wine that was served.
Before the service of the second course Martino revealed to us that there would be a surprise, a wine made with grapes from the older Sangiovese vines of both Pergole Torte and Montevertine. The wine would be bottled in 1000 magnums and would go on sale in May 2025.
Regarding the width of the tannin, it is important to make the following clarifications so that it can be understood. I feel the tannin of the wine on the upper gum. The total width of the tannin is 6/6, i.e. the entire width of the upper gum. Obviously, if the tannin is less broad, it could be for example 5/6 and so on. The width of the tannin is important when the quality of the tannin is of good or high level. The larger the tannin, the more worthy of attention the wine is, but the tannin, as I have specified, must, in any case, be of good quality.
Let’s now move on to describing the wines tasted.
The wine was “Sergio Manetti’s 2021” which was served in a Bordeaux bottle for lunch. We were all curious, eager to taste it, taste it and drink it. The “rain of venison with the scent of cypress, pumpkin, currants and chestnuts” was served with this wine.
The wine kissed the dish we were enjoying, giving both the nose and the taste an intense violet with a final taste of aromatic herbs.
Afterwards we were served a dessert “Pera alla bella Elena”, exquisite but I was concentrated and ecstatic in drinking this wine dedicated to Sergio Manetti. All the guests were also pleasantly moved to have been sent to an event dedicated to friends, in memory of Sergio Manetti.
MONTEVERTINE COMPANY
MONTEVERTINE, 2013 vintage
(grape variety: 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Colorino)
Garnet red coat with fine orange edge.
From the glass rise balsamic aromas of mint and eucalyptus followed by cherry, starch from the cotton fabric, rosemary, sage, rubber, finishing with light caresses of sea water (it is the same as the internal white part of the watermelon peel).
Pleasantly savoury, with a violet flavour. The body is medium sufficient plus.
Perfect balance between alcohol and freshness. The tannins are sweet, quite broad (5/6) and velvety.
Its taste persistence is long.
Wine not of structure but of delicate pleasantness.
(91/100)
MONTEVERTINE COMPANY
“SERGIO MANETTI’S 2021”
1000 Magnum bottles. Sangiovese grapes from the older vineyards of Pergole Torte and Montevertine were used.
Ruby red color.
Olfactory kaleidoscope made of aromas of intense violet, mint, eucalyptus, liquorice, hot cloth soaked in starch for ironing, mild bas-armagnac, boiled chestnuts, crushed with grapes, rosemary, blond leather, capers, Marseille soap to finish with whiffs of orris.
The taste test highlights a medium plus body and a perfect balance between alcohol and freshness, the latter completely enveloping the former.
The wine at the entrance has an intense violet flavour.
The tannins are sweet, quite thick, wide (6/6–) initially velvety and then slightly dry on the upper gum (sin of youth). Its taste persistence is long with a medicinal herbal finish.
(98/100)
MONTEVERTINE COMPANY
LE PERGOLE TORTE Toscana IGT, 2010 vintage
(grape variety: 100% Sangiovese)
Garnet red dress with orange edge.
Olfactory mix composed of aromas of mint, worked leather, medicinal herbs, chinotto, tamarind, blond leather, hints of rosemary, hints of boiled chestnut with dried wild fennel, starch from cotton fabric, almond, rubber, finishing with whispers of star anise.
On the palate the body is medium and the wine is savory and has a flavor of medicinal herbs and chinotto.
Good taste balance with freshness that completely envelops the alcoholic mass.
The tannins are sweet, broad (6/6-) and velvety.
Its intense aromatic taste persistence is long.
(95/100)
