Andrea and Ada Natalini
Podere Le Bèrne is located in the Cervognano region southeast of Montepulciano (see map below). Its vineyards are at about 350m elevation and oriented south towards Trasimeno Lake, which provides a cooling effect during the summer. The estate started making wines in the 1960s. Today, Andrea Natalini farms and manages the 21-hectare estate (including 12 ha of vines in 5 different parcels) and makes the wines with Paolo Vagaggini, one of Tuscany’s most famous consulting enologists. Andrea was also President of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from 2013-2019.
Andrea uses organic methods in the vineyard and makes the wines using native yeast, matures the wines in a combination of large Slavonian oak botti and small French oak barriques, and gives the Vino Nobile wines at least 8 months in bottle before release. We tasted the current releases of Le Bèrne with Andrea at the Anteprima Vino Nobile di Montepulciano earlier this year.
US Importers include Siena Imports and Vinello.
The Wines
Le Berné 2022 Rosso di Montepulciano 90 This all Sangiovese Rosso is fruit forward with a red berry and cherry nose. The aromas are mirrored on the fruity, fresh palate. It has vibrant acidity and round tannins. It’s a blend of young vineyards in the bottom of the valley with higher yields and larger grapes. Fermented in stainless steel with 15 days skin contact and matured 4 months in large botti. A good bistro wine.
Le Berné 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 91 This regular bottling of Vino Nobile is aromatically very fresh with red fruit and a hint of tobacco leaf. Made in a modern style, it offers fresh dark cherry and plum with light earthy notes on a softly textured palate with lively acidity. Lovely, easy drinking! A vineyard blend of small berries of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino sourced from 30-60 year old vines at the top of the hill; matured two years in 80% 25 hl Slavonian botti and 20% French oak barriques.
Le Berné 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Cervognano Alto 92 Medium ruby with a red brick colored edge. Opens with a perfumed bouquet of red berries, herbs, and a hint of minerals. The 2020 vintage shows a medium weight, softly textured palate with a sense of elegance. 100% Sangiovese sourced from a northwest facing, single vineyard with the highest acidity and lowest pH of the estate. This site used to have difficulty ripening. Made the same way as the Riserva and matured 2 years in 10hl barrels.
Le Berné 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 93 Saturated ruby with a brick red rim. Reveals classic aromas of dark red berries, plum, and a hint of potpourri. The palate shows spice tinged black currant flavors that deepen through the mid-palate. Broad, silky mouth feel with supple tannins and a long, spicy finish. Predominantly Sangiovese with some Colorino from a 60 year old vineyard of calcareous clay soils at 350m elevation with a southern exposure. Matured 30 months in 60% French barrique and 40% Slavonian 25 hl botti. Good now but even better with a couple of years in the cellar.
Le Berné 2021 L’Affronto IGT 90 This Tuscan IGT is made with only local grapes. Semi-opaque in color, the nose reveals blackberry and hints of violets and slate like minerals. Broad in the mouth with good depth of flavor and a medium long finish. An interesting blend of Colorino and Mammolo grapes aged 10 months in stainless steel followed by 8 months in bottle.
Source : https://i-winereview.com/blog/index.php/2024/05/13/podere-le-berne-of-vino-nobile-di-montepulciano/
