Contucci: Historic Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Palazzo Contucci (credit Contucci)

The wines of Montepulciano have a long history dating to at least the Renaissance, and the Contucci family has been growing grapes and making wine at least that long. The Contucci Cellar, built in the inner walls of the city dates to the 13^th century, and the family home, the Palazzo Contucci, constructed in 1517 on the Piazza Grande above the cellar, dates to the 16^th century.  The extended Palazzo family still lives in the palace, which has frescoes painted by Andrea Pozzo in 1703. During my stay in Montepulciano last month, Andrea Contucci gave me a tour of the 900 year old cellar where the winery still ages its wines and provided a tasting of the newest releases.

900 Year Old Cellar (credit drwinkler)

Today, the family has 22.5 hectares of vines located in diverse parts of Montepulciano. About 80% of the grapes are Sangiovese, complemented by Caniolo Nero, Colorino, and Marmolo.  The winery ferments 50/50 in stainless steel and concrete tanks and ages in large oak botti, half French and half Slavonian; a barrel is kept about 15 years on average. The wines are aged in cask and bottle longer than usual these days and are stylistically traditional, in the best sense of the word.

Contucci has several US importers including Opera Wines.

The Wines

Contucci 2023 Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 90 Medium ruby red. Fresh and fruity aromas of dark cherry. Medium bodied, easy drinking palate with good freshness and length. A blend of 80% Prugnolo gentile, 15% Canaiolo nero, and 5% Colorino sourced from a vineyard in southern Montepulciano in the Pieve Sant’Albino. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. 13.5% alc.

Contucci 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano  92 Bouquet of dark red fruit with tobacco, leather and underbrush notes. Suave on entry with concentrated flavors and good balance on a medium plus weight palate. This is the most important wine for Contucci, accounting for half its total production, and the style is consistent over time: good balance, elegant, and enjoyable upon release. Predominantly (80%) Sangiovese plus Colorino and Mammolo sourced from three older vineyards in different parts of Montepulciano. Matured 2 years in botti ranging in size from 9 to 25 hl, racked twice each year, after which the wine spend time in concrete tanks and bottles before entering the market. 14% alc.

1701 Pozzo Frescoe (credit drwinkler)

Contucci 2020 Pietra Rossa Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 92 This has been a single vineyard wine since the mid-80s. The nose reveals dark red cherry, sandalwood, and nuances of violets and graphite. Silky in texture with darker, complex flavors and dry tannins on the finish. The 2 ha Pietra Rossa vineyard sits at 400m elevation in the Le Grazie pieve overlooking Lago Trasimeno with iron-red clay soils. Aged 30 months in oak barrels with rackings every 6 months followed by 8 months in bottle before release. 14% alc.

Contucci 2020 Mulinvecchio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 92 More fruity and suave than the Pietra Rossa, this Vino Nobile comes from the opposite side of Montepulciano overlooking the Val d’orcin. Open with notes of sandalwood, mushroom, and red fruit. Fresh, integrated and mouth filling with a persistent finish. Grown in tufa sand and aged the same as the Pietra Rossa.

Andrea Contucci (credit drwinkler)

Contucci 2019 Palazzo Contucci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano  93 A blend of grapes from the Pietra Rossa and Mulinvecchio vineyards, this wine was introduced on the 500th anniversary of the construction of the Palazzo Contucci in Montepulciano. It reveals excellent concentration of sweet fruit on a broad, silky-textured palate. Finishes with dry tannins and lingering rich extract. An excellent wine from a very good vintage.

Contucci 2018 Riserva Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 93 The Riserva is a selection of grapes from the same three vineyards used for the regular Vino Nobile. Aged for 3 years in oak with 6 rackings plus an additional year in bottle before release, this is a vin de garde. Asian spice, leather and dark red fruit show on the nose. The mouth feel is silky with integrated flavors and dry tannins, finishing with bright fruit notes.