Monteverro - Tinata 2019

Decanter: "The 2019 vintage began with a cold spring. Temperatures picked up in July, and the season was even-keeled with no heat spikes or rain. The 2019 is a masterful creation with Bordelais elegance and brightness of character, underscored by zesty acidity and framed by powerful, elongated tannins that have real staying power. The wine shows a deep ruby colour and leads with explosive blue fruit and black cherry aromatics with elegant cedarwood and garrigue notes. Nuances of white pepper, charcuterie, blood orange, and sanguine minerality with rose petals on the long finish. One to cellar and enjoy for the next four or five decades. Winemaker Jean Hoefliger met the Webber family, owners of Monteverro, in 2003 at Newton in Napa Valley. The winery is in Capalbio, in the Tuscan Maremma, about a mile from the sea as the crow flies. The estate harbours 24.28 hectares of vines on eroded stony soils, much like the round river rocks of the Rhône Valley. The in-house winemaker is Matthieu Taunay, and Jean Hoefliger has served as a consultant since 2008, the first vintage. The winery is a state-of-the-art facility, allowing for stainless steel, concrete egg, and barrel fermentation. The Tinata is a unique blend for this region of Tuscany and is typically 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache each year. Aged in roughly 80% new French oak for 16 months. The Syrah remains in the barrel the entire time, but the Grenache goes up to concrete tanks halfway through ageing to avoid the oxidative potential of the grape and keep it fresh and lively, layering that quality to the blend. "

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: "This 2019 Monteverro Tinata is a delightful blend of Syrah and Grenache from southern Tuscany near the border with Lazio. On the nose it is full of appealing smoky, dark blackcurrant, Mediterranean herbs and spicy, pepper aromas - all very warm and inviting. On the palate there is a lush ripeness to the fruit, but this is beautifully balanced by bright acidity so that the finish is refreshing and uplifting. It is a delightful, velvet-textured wine full of ripe, dark fruit and spices. It just shows how well Syrah and Grenache can do in this part of Tuscany. Consultant Oenologist is the renowned Michel Rolland from Bordeaux."

James Suckling: "Lots of dried-meat, pink-peppercorn, ink and smoky character. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, layered tannins that are intense. Lead-pencil and crushed-stone undertones. Give this three or four years to soften."

Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2019 Tinata pours a medium red/purple hue and is expressive on opening with aromas of spiced red plums, tarry earth, toasted cedar, and incense. Medium to full-bodied, it has a refreshing spine of acidity that makes for a more focused feel and linear drive in this vintage. The finish has hints of strawberry perfume with its Grenache shining through. It’s in a great place now or over the coming 15 years. Bottle 3016 of 6235."

The Wine Advocate: "A blend of Syrah and Grenache, the Monteverro 2019 Tinata shows wonderful richness and concentration with a full range of spicy and opulent dark fruit aromas. This is a terrific organic wine that can be appreciated most of all thanks to its expertly applied Italian face to these high-performing Rhône varieties. There is a lot of promise in these grapes, especially along this sun-drenched stretch of coastal Tuscany. Tinata is creamy rich and opulent with sweet dark fruit, spice and baking chocolate."

Weinwisser: "70 % Syrah, 30 % Grenache: Ausbau erfolgt 70 % in Barrique, 30 % im Beton-Ei. Weit ausladendes, sehr würziges Bouquet mit schwarzem Pfeffer, Lakritze, dunklem Tabak, Schwarzkirsche und balsamischen Noten, aber auch Noten, die an rote Erde und Puder erinnern. Im Mund kraftvoll und intensiv-fruchtig, mit würzig- balsamischer Grundierung, dabei mit guter Frische ausgestattet, seidige Tannine und regelrecht druckvoll und fest. Auch hier zeigt sich der tolle Jahrgang."