2005 Montevetrano

Montevetrano is one of southern Italy’s most impressive producers. Located in San Cipriano Picentino, south of Naples, the property was purchased in the 1940s by the Imparato family, who farmed and made wine only for the family. But in the 1980s a new generation improved the vineyards adding Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Aglianico Taursi grapes. In 1991 the family produced its first bottles of Montevetrano from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Aglianico. The first commercial vintage was 1993. Today the estate consists of 12 acres planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Aglianico. About 30,000 bottles are produced a year. Montevetrano wines are unfined and unfiltered and Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Montevetrano “staggering in its complexity and richness.”

Campania is on the southeastern coast of Italy, and the city of Naples is its commercial and cultural capital. Wine has always been produced in this hard-scrabble region, though the quality of those wines has traditionally not matched the wine quality elsewhere in Italy. Rich volcanic soils mean that the region easily grows everything from citrus and artichokes to nuts, and growing wine grapes has not been a priority historically. However in the last couple of decades forward-thinking producers and vineyard owners have focused on improving both their wines and Campania’s winemaking reputation, and the results are noteworthy. Campania was awarded its first DOCG appellation in 1991. It is the Taurasi DOCG, which grows primarily Aglianico, a native grape that can produce big, concentrated, complex red wines with layers of earthy flavors. There are 101,000 acres of vineyards in Campania, making it Italy’s ninth largest wine producing region, though only 2.8% of those vineyards are in DOC appellations. Nevertheless several excellent large producers and numerous boutique producers are now crafting well-reviewed red and white wines, all mostly from indigenous grapes. Besides Aglianico, the other most frequently planted red wine grapes are Coda de Volpe and Pedirosso. White grapes planted are Falanghina, Fiano and Greco. There are 18 DOCs in Campania.

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Aglianico