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What We Say 2007 'Ireneo' Cabernet Sauvignon - Conte Emo Capodilista
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
Today’s Italian Cabernet Sauvignon is truly a remarkable wine of elegance and finesse. If you love the varietal and have yet to try an Italian rendition, then today’s delicious selection is well worth your consideration.
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Mission Codename: The Mythical Euganei
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Secure an excellent Italian Cabernet Sauvignon for our operatives
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: La Montecchia
Wine Subject: 2007 ‘Ireneo’ Cabernet Sauvignon – Colli Euganei DOC
Winemaker: Andrea Boaretti
Backgrounder:
The Colli Euganei DOC located in Italy’s northeast Veneto region is well known among Italian wine enthusasts for producing classic Bordeaux varietal grapes into elegant and flavorful Italian renditions of the grapes. The region’s volcanic history greatly influences the grapes and tourism in the area (spa, hot springs and hot mud). Today’s delicious Tre Bicchieri (highest honors of Gambero Rosso) selection from oenologist Andrea Boarette is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Carmenere that was aged for 12 month in classic barriques.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – A lovely dark and nearly black with ruby red streaks with a dense inky core. Along the edges, the color lightens slightly to show its deep ruby tints and when swirled, this wine leaves fast and randomly spaced thin color stained legs on the side of the glass.
Smell – Classic dark fruit aromas of blackberry, black cherry and dark plum blend with sweet and hot exotic spice, balsamic notes, hints of black licorice and wild anise and soft floral violets. Toasted and spiced woody and fragrant floral aromas adds an inviting complexity to this wine.
Feel – Silky smooth and well developed tannins blend with dusty minerality and balanced acidity to give this dry and full-bodied wine a sturdy but plush structure that glides over the palate and lingers long into the finish.
Taste – Classic Cabernet flavors of black fruit including blackberry, black cherry, currants and plus expand over the palate with restraint and are backed by both hot exotic and sweet spice. Toasted and spiced oak, black licorice and wild anise lie just underneath with notes of dusty minerality also lingerings on the palate.
Finish – Extremely long, clean and elegant on the finish with the fruit, wood, spice and other complex flavors fading in perfect balance and harmony.
Conclusion – The 2007 La Montecchia ‘Ireneo’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious Cabernet that is both smooth and plush but also well structured. Great complexity in its aromatic and flavor profile and a long clean finish. This wine is drinking perfectly now (decant or let breathe for an hour) or cellar for the next five years. We paired this wine with bison steaks cooked Florentine style (garlic, rosemary, olive oil and sea salt) but this contemplative wine is perfect for lingering in front the the fireplace on a cool autumn night.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Andrea Boaretti and Giuseppe Caviola. We are thrilled to be showing your 2007 Conte Emo ‘Ireneo’ Colli Euganei today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
WINEMAKERS: Andrea Boaretti and Giuseppe Caviola
WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
WINEMAKERS: My family business since centuries. “I was born in the cellar”.
WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
WINEMAKERS: Pinot Nero of Bourgogne
WHITE: Who do you make wine for?
WINEMAKERS: For myself and consumers
WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
WINEMAKERS: It is a cru obtained in Monte Castello, the southeast hill of Veneto region
WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
WINEMAKERS: Roasted meat and steak
WHITE: In your opinion, what makes the Colli Euganei so special?
WINEMAKERS: Volcanic hills so closed to the Adriatic See (20 miles)
WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
WINEMAKERS: the harvest
WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
WINEMAKERS: Wine is culture!
WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
WINEMAKERS: I suggest to come and visit us.
WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of the Colli Euganei DOC can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
La Montecchia
Awards & Accolades:
Tre Bicchieri – Gambero Rosso – October 27, 2010
About This Wine:
Intense ruby red color; tempting blackberry fruit aromas combined with spicy, fragrant impressions that harmoniously unfold on the palate. A full‐bodied wine with a long finish and an elegant, firm structure.
Serving suggestions: Beef fillet, wild game, ripe/strong cheese.
About The Winery:
Prize‐winning wines of the highest quality from a wine estate with over a thousand years of family
history. The historical wine estate La Montecchia lies in the heart of the Veneto region, and is
primarily concerned with viticulture, an activity established there since before the Middle Ages. The
owner, Count Umberto Emo Capodilista, and his son, Giordano, produce wines of international
standard from the varieties Merlot and Cabernet as well as from local grapes with the wish to
constantly improve the area’s potential.
The Capodilista family came to the Euganean Hills after the time of Karl the Great and received the
earldom of Montemerlo for the bravery they demonstrated in the battle against Desiderio, the last
king of the Lombardi. At the end of the 18th century, Beatrice, the last member of the Capodilista
family, married Leonardo Emo, a Venetian noble from one of the oldest family within the “Most
Serene Republic of Venice”.
In the Middle Ages, Count Alberto di Baone initiated high quality wine‐growing separating the wine
coming “from the hills” versus e lower quality wine “from the plain”.
The La Montecchia estate is primarily concerned with viticulture, an activity established here since the Middle Ages. Petrarch himself appreciated the local vintage, making his home at Arquà at the southern foot of the Euganean Hills.
The present owner, count Umberto Emo Capodilista, started renovating the vineyards and the cellars at the beginning of the ‘90ies, making his son Giordano Emo Capodilista responsible for the managment of the estate, assisted by the oeunologist Andrea Boaretti and the agronomist Patrizio Gasparinetti.
Prizes and recognition from the most notable wine critics like Robert Parker, Luca Maroni, “Gambero Rosso” and Luigi Veronelli have encouraged Giordano Emo to continue in this manner. Half of production is exported abroad.
Most of the labels show figures from the highly interesting “Capodilista Codex”, a volume commissioned in the 15th century to an unknown artist by Giovan Francesco Capodilista, ambassador of the Serenissima to the council in Basel.
Black grapes predominate on these 45 hectares:Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot and Raboso – a local variety that is picked late – are cultivated here. Merlot and Cabernet have been grown in La Montecchia since the 19th century and are justifiably regarded as local vines. The white varieties are Chardonnay, Moscato Fior d’Arancio and Pinot Bianco.
All varieties – except the basic “Colli Euganei Rosso” wine of the estate called “Cadeto” which is made with Merlot and Cabernet and the cru “Villa Capodilista” which is made with Merlot, Cabernet and Raboso – are bottled as single variety (“vinificati in purezza”). You might also want to try the Moscato Fior d’Arancio made with the Moscato grape which is put to dry before it is pressed and produces an highly acclaimed dessert wine sold in half-size bottles.
Technical Analysis:
Region: Colli Euganei DOC
Alcohol: 13.5%
Origin: Monte Castello, Veneto
Varietals: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7%
Merlot, 3% Carmenere
Soil: various types of marl of the
Euganei hills and basalt
Exposure: South, South‐West Altitude 425 ft above sea level
Barrel Ageing: 12 months in barrique
Bottle Agening: 6 months
