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95+ WA.
"The 2013 Morellino di Scansano Riserva Poggio Valente is a breakthrough wine for Fattoria le Pupille and its talented winemaking team. This is a complete and balanced expression that shows its best side to all the senses: its appearance is richly saturated and bright; the bouquet is intense and complex; and the mouthfeel shows elegance and power. In all, this wine tastes and feels much younger than it really is and I have high hopes for its future aging ability. It shows a great sense of inner energy and liveliness that makes it a pleasure to drink in the near term as well. Soft flavors of black cherry, spice and grilled herb wrap thickly over the palate. No one, absolutely no one, can resist the persuasive charm of Elisabetta Geppetti. I fell under her spell years ago and was delighted to spend more time with her recently as she oversaw incoming fruit during harvest. She wore a smile that lit up the winery. Grape picking and rose gardening constitute her favorite activities of the year. She proudly lifted the lid on a giant Tuscan clay pot with whole berries of Syrah at the start of fermentation. She had personally picked the grapes the day before and wanted to show me how perfectly clean and pristine each single berry appears among that mass of dark fruit. Luca D'Attoma, her detailed-minded consulting enologist, fastened the lid of the clay jar securely once she had finished admiring the proverbial fruits of her labor. This dynamic team, Geppetti-D'Attoma, is quickly changing things around at Fattoria le Pupille. The oak philosophy is being revamped and all the estate wines are gradually moving towards bigger and more neutral wood. There is new work being done with Syrah (results that I am very excited to taste when they are ready) and Petit Manseng (that I was able to taste, although the wine still does not have a name). I've included a preliminary review of the Petite Manseng here. The best news of all regards the Tuscan red blend Saffredi. I don't recall ever tasting a finer vintage than 2013." Monica Larner, Wine Advocate Interim, Jan 2017 |