Edoardo Valentini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Edoardo Valentini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo:
[Eh-do-ahr-do Vah-lehn-tee-nee Mon-teh-pool-chah-no
dah-broots-so]
In the mountainous zone of east central Italy, the
Abruzzo region manages a simplified wine classification
system with two principal offerings, Montepulciano
d’Abruzzo and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. While
these prolific DOCs (in 2003, the subzone of Colline
Teramane was accorded the DOCG designation for its
Montepulciano) turn out numerous banal expressions
of their eponymous grapes, there are two winemakers—the
late Edoardo Valentini (he passed away in April of
2006 at the age of 72) and Emidio Pepe—who have
demonstrated the remarkable inherent potential not
only of Montepulciano, but of the lowly Trebbiano
as well. In fact, the work of Abruzzo’s foremost
practitioners has enabled the wines derived from these
grapes to share the company of Italy’s most
esteemed natives.
One of Italy’s most sought-after wines—meriting
trophy status in the cellar of many Italian wine collectors—Valentini’s
Montepulciano is a provocatively rustic rendition
crafted from late-harvest grapes. Regarded as one
of the world’s most elite and accomplished red
wines, it is crafted exclusively in exceptional vintage
years. This qualitative stricture and its minute production
figure render it one of the most difficult cult bottlings
to acquire. While delivering a concentrated expression
upon release, as with Valentini’s Trebbiano,
it requires several years to develop its full profile;
a significant period of aeration is requisite to approach
the wine meaningfully prior to that time. Vintages
that are held in particular esteem are ’85,
’88, ’90, ’92, and ’97.
In recent years, producers have sought to maximize
Montepulciano’s rich core of fruit through aging
in barrique and rigorous processes of selection, producing
concentrated offerings. Valentini, however, pursued
an interpretation unto itself, quite literally transforming
the commonplace into the transcendent. At present,
Valentini’s son, Francesco, continues to produce
the estate’s wines in accordance with the exacting
standards established by his father.
Valentini’s varietal reclamation is particularly
impressive in the case of the ubiquitous Trebbiano,
which is the source of several vapid whites produced
throughout Italy’s expanse. Valentini’s
Trebbiano—which is believed to derive from a
clone of the grape exclusive to Valentini—is
something of an anomalous character, therefore, bearing
virtually no relation to its vinous source. Valentini,
however, believed that Trebbiano actually proffered
the most profound elucidation of Abruzzo’s terroir
and character. Under the regal regimen of this “Lord
of the Vines”—a treatment based on closely
guarded artisanal methods and a strict process of
selection—it realizes compelling form.
|
|
Wine: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Producer: Edoardo Valentini
Varietal(s): Montepulciano
Region: Abruzzo
Province: Loreto Apruntino
Commune: Pescara
Altitude:
Exposure:
Classification: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC
First Year:
Bottle Production:
More Landmark Wines:
Mastroberardino Taurasi
Riserva Radici
|
|
|
|
|
