Avignonesi Nobile de Montepulciano Oceano 2016

Drink now or cellar for up to 13 years. No need to decant before serving.

The stunning Avignonesi estate with its 16th century classical-style villa, rolling vineyards and ancient wine cellars is located near the village of Valiano a few kilometres from Montepulciano. Avignonesi played a key role in elevating the region’s iconic wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, to the global stage in the 1980s and is today regarded as one of the finest local producers.

Oceano takes its name from the single vineyard plot where the fruit is grown for this wine which was planted with bush vines at the turn of the millennium after extensive research identified this as a top future cru for Avignonesi. The vineyard is named after the soils which are of maritime origin with a thick layer of mattaione clay topped by a calcareous top layer. This provides ideal growing conditions for the Sangiovese grape, with the clay holding and releasing just enough water to the vines over the spring and summer months.

Once in the winery the grapes were fermented and macerated for 35 days on the skins followed by 22 months of ageing in oak barrels. The unique terroir and lengthy ageing help to craft a voluptuous and opulent Sangiovese with plenty of structure and power. The nose is bursting with Mediterranean herbs, sandalwood, violets and ripe cherries while the first sip reveals a generous full body, firm tannins and a persistent finish seasoned with cigar box spice and hints of sunbaked earth.