MCF Rare Wine Ltd.
Mocali Rosso 2013: Yeah, it's good...
There's a lot of vintage-related hype fluttering about the ether these days. Pretty much every country in Europe has wines that are either on the market or are about to hit that they are very excited about.
In Italy, it's all about the 2013s.
The country's two most collectible and revered appellations, Barolo and Brunello, will be dropping their highly anticipated '13s on us over the next year, so this little opening monologue is as much an intro to today's wine as it is a signal to keep your eyes peeled, because there's a lot of great Italian wine on the horizon.
Okay, so back to my original train of thought...right...2013s in Montalcino are going to be really good.
I don't say that because I'm just rebroadcasting the industry line, I'm saying it because one wine in particular just got me really excited for them.
We've been selling the wines of Mocali for years to anyone who's seeking authentic, old-school, under-the-radar Brunello at a really fair price. Their wines are great.
The other week, my rep dropped off a bottle of their 2013 Rosso di Montalcino and we gave it a go.
It was, at first, a little hard to read, but as it sat open, it began to sort itself out and become recognizable as true Sangiovese from Montalcino.
It showed classic reddish/dark fruit, great depth and power, and that mineral/iron-y/rustic quality that I always get from Montalcino. It finished with wonderful grip.
This was a fantastic example of Brunello's little brother. I had already made up my mind that we'd stock it as soon as I had the chance.
But, as I always do with young Italian wines (especially Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Aglianico), I was really curious to see how it continued to evolve once opened.
We re-corked it and stuck it in the fridge for the night.
The next day was when the real excitement hit. I took a quick passing sniff and sip at some point early the following afternoon and did the wine tasting equivalent of a double-take.
It had grabbed my full attention, to say the least.
The structure, balance and overall stuffing had only gotten better overnight, as had all of that fine Montalcino character.
Had you poured me that taste blind I would have said it was a Brunello from a top-tier producer.
Knowing that it was a Rosso made it all the more impressive and, in fact, I'd say that this is as legit of a RdM as I can remember ever having.
Here's the best part -- while many Rossi are eclipsing the $30 mark these days, this Brunello in a Rosso's clothing is coming in at $18.
This is an incredibly good wine at a fantastic price that'll give you a great peek at the vaunted 2013 vintage.
Drink it now, or let it go for another five years (or more).
You'll be really happy wither either path you choose.
Do it.
Matt Franco
MCF Rare Wine, Ltd
237 West 13th Street
New York 10011
mcf@mcf-rarewine.com
212.255.8870
www.mcf-rarewine.com