Montepeloso
The Montepeloso winery, located in Maremma, owned by Swiss co-proprietor and estate manager Fabio Chiarelotto, has earned a reputation for outstanding red wines. With a combination of mostly traditional and indigenous grape varieties, but also international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, complex wines with a Mediterranean character are produced. This Tuscan gem is hidden in the hills of Suvereto, near the Tyrrhenian coast — one of the hottest areas of Tuscany.
Montepeloso spans 30 hectares, of which 15 are planted with vines. The terroir in the valley near Suvereto, around four kilometres from the Tyrrhenian coast, between the fertile alluvial soil in the plain and the barren valley flanks, offers the vines exciting conditions. Here, in one of the hottest areas of Tuscany, land and sea alternate. The thermals and coastal winds caused by the strong sunlight and the nature of the soil have a welcome cooling effect on the grapes. This keeps them fresh despite the Tuscan sun, which is reflected not least in the pronounced salinity of the wines. The highly mineral soils of the Colline Metallifere and the spicy notes of the Mediterranean scrub characterise the wines, giving them an unmistakable character of origin. The wines of Montepeloso are known for their power, but also for their elegance, structure and finesse, which makes them sought-after representatives of the Tuscan wine tradition.
Rosé wines from Montepeloso
Red wines from Montepeloso
from Montepeloso
Guided by his intuition and armed with a history doctorate, Fabio Chiarelotto has showcased an exceptional knack for selecting grape varieties perfectly suited to the climate and conditions. This meticulous approach results in wines that are not only refined and elegant, but also intricately complex without being overly heavy or opulent. Taking the reins in 1999 from the Swiss couple Dönni-Neukomm, Chiarelotto has been the driving force behind Montepeloso's success. Since 2000, he has been working closely with oenologist Fabrizio Moltard, who gained his first work experience with the Frescobaldi family and Angelo Gaja.
The winery achieved its breakthrough with the award-winning single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon “Gabbro Rosso". This was followed by the expressive red wines Nardo, Eneo and A Quo, all cuvées made from local red grape varieties such as Sangiovese or Malvasia Nera as well as international grape varieties, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. The production of these cuvées with indigenous grape varieties was a “Tuscan” project developed jointly by oenologist Fabrizio Moltard and owner Fabio Chiarelotto. These four top wines with their extraordinary names are in no way inferior to the famous competition from Bolgheri!
Producer
Dominio de Pingus
The first Pingus was bottled in 1995. This limited production wine from Ribera del Duero made history with a legendary rating from Robert Parker Junior (1998): "One of the greatest young red wines I have ever tasted." The vintage is also at the centre of a somewhat mythical-sounding story – the freighter carrying a quarter of the limited production sank off the Azores, with the wine ending up in Davy Jones's locker at the bottom of the sea.
Champagne André Clouet
We didn’t find the low house, dating from the 17th century, straight away, even though the village of Bouzy is not very large. Modest buildings are grouped around a courtyard, behind which a vineyard lies, similar to a clos.
Château Raymond Lafon
Located in the heart of the Sauternes area, this winery comprises 18 hectares, 16 of which planted with 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The maximum yield by law is 25 hectolitres per hectare. The yields at Raymond-Lafon average only 8 to 10 hectolitres per hectare; in other words, one vine will produce only one glass of delicious wine. Over several pickings, the grapes are harvested one by one according to their level of maturity. In some years, this can result in up to ten selected hand harvests. This alone lets one appreciate the great value of this wine.