1997 Montiano
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Proprietor Riccardo Cotarella's 1997 Montiano vino da tavola (100% Merlot, bottled unfined and unfiltered after spending 12 months in new French oak) is fabulous. It displays multiple layers that build in the mouth, exploding at the back of the palate. From its opaque purple color, the huge sweet notes of chocolate, smoke, black fruits, and toast satiate the olfactory senses, yet please the mind's intellectual yearnings. Pure and powerful, yet brilliantly knit together with no hard edges and no sense of high alcohol or heaviness, this sensational wine is one of the finest Merlots made in Italy. Production was 1,000 cases. Anticipated maturity: now-2014. A Leonardo Locascio Selection, Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Daniel Thomases, Vinous
More reviews and scores
One hundred percent merlot and one of central Italy top wines since 1992. Blackish ruby color. Roasted, toasted aromas are jammy without any loss of freshness. Superlatively sweet in flavor, with a light merlot herbaceousness; precise and delineated, with a texture of noteworthy richness. I still believe the 1993 to be the best vintage of this wine, closely followed by the 1995, but this is very good indeed.