Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2023 is one of Italy's most celebrated reds: pure Sangiovese from the oldest vines at Montevertine in Radda in Chianti. It was rated 94 POINTS by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, with dark-toned fruit, mocha and new leather. A special wine.
In the glass it reveals lavender and licorice, with a mid-weight frame and soft, rounded contours that make it approachable even now.
This is the bottle we would put away for a milestone birthday or open when a serious Tuscan red is the focus of the evening. It rewards being decanted for an hour in its youth.
First made in 1977, Le Pergole Torte was the first wine from Radda made solely from Sangiovese.
What it tastes like
This wine has a density of black cherry at its core, with a waft of incense and sweet spice as it opens in the glass.
The palate has lovely upfront fruit, matched by fine tannins that are already well woven into the wine. The finish is long and gently spiced.
It's a classic, quietly confident Sangiovese.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh
- Tannin: Fine and supple
- Oak: 12 months in French Allier barriques, then 12 months in large Slavonian oak casks. The barriques add a touch of mocha and spice; the large casks let the fruit lead.
- Style: Pure, elegant, age-worthy Sangiovese
Food to enjoy this with
- Slow-roasted wild venison with juniper and red wine jus
- Pappardelle with wild boar ragù
- Roast duck with cherries
- Bistecca alla fiorentina, cooked rare over coals
- Porcini risotto finished with aged Parmigiano
- Aged pecorino with chestnut honey
- Something unexpected: mushroom and truffle pizza from a wood-fired oven. The earthy toppings bring out the leather and spice in the wine.
Montevertine suggests roast poultry, game, red and white meats and cheeses.
Who makes it
Sergio Manetti bought Montevertine, an old hilltop hamlet in Radda in Chianti, in 1967 as a holiday home. He planted vines, built a small cellar and made his first vintage in 1971. He later left the Chianti Classico consortium, and the wines have carried the Toscana name ever since.
The estate sits at 425 metres in the heart of the Chianti hills. Montevertine grows only the traditional local grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino. The grapes are picked by hand and fermented in cement tanks, without temperature control.
Today Sergio's son Martino Manetti runs the estate with oenologist Paolo Salvi. Le Pergole Torte is made from the first selection of fruit from the oldest vineyards, planted between 1968 and 1999. It is fermented in cement for around 25 days, then aged for 12 months in French barriques and 12 months in Slavonian oak casks.
From the 1982 vintage, Sergio asked artist Alberto Manfredi to paint a woman's face for each year's label, and the tradition still marks every bottle.
About the vintage
Walter Speller of JancisRobinson.com noted that 2023 was a challenging vintage in Chianti Classico. Downy mildew, known locally as peronospora, hit vineyards across much of Italy. The Chianti Classico consortium pointed to the region's high, well-ventilated vineyards as an advantage that minimised the impact.
Antonio Galloni noted that the very hot summer gave the young 2023’s at Montevertine natural richness and volume.
Critic scores and ratings
- 94 POINTS – Antonio Galloni – Vinous, August 2026
When to drink it
Antonio Galloni recommends drinking it from 2030 through to 2043. It's the sort of wine you buy a case of and open over the years.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Montevertine |
| Wine: |
Le Pergole Torte |
| Vintage: |
2023 |
| Variety: |
100% Sangiovese |
| Region: |
Radda in Chianti, Tuscany |
| Country: |
Italy |
| Classification: |
Toscana IGT |
| Fermentation: |
Cement tanks for around 25 days, with malolactic fermentation also in cement |
| Oak: |
12 months in French Allier barriques, then 12 months in Slavonian oak casks |
| Cellaring: |
2030 to 2043 (Vinous) |
| Serving temperature: |
17 to 18°C |
Where to buy
The Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2023 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
Is Le Pergole Torte a Super Tuscan?
No. Montevertine Le Pergole Torte is often grouped with the Super Tuscans because it is labelled Toscana IGT, but it is made only from Sangiovese.
What grape is Montevertine Le Pergole Torte made from?
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte is 100% Sangiovese, picked from the estate's oldest vineyards in Radda in Chianti.
How long should I cellar Le Pergole Torte 2023?
Antonio Galloni of Vinous gives Montevertine Le Pergole Torte 2023 a drinking window of 2030 to 2043.
Why is it called Toscana IGT and not Chianti Classico?
Sergio Manetti took Montevertine out of the Chianti Classico consortium, so Le Pergole Torte has been sold under the Toscana name ever since.
Who paints the Le Pergole Torte label?
From 1982 Montevertine used a woman's face painted by artist Alberto Manfredi on each vintage of Le Pergole Torte, and the face is still the wine's signature.
Where can I buy Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2023?
The Winery sells Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2023 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
