The colour is medium garnet. On the nose, sour cherries, raspberries, liquorice, tobacco leaf and floral notes emerge. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with firm yet beautifully integrated tannins that provide structure without sacrificing elegance. The finish is discreet, yet long, savoury and persistent.
Produced in the hills of Radda in Chianti, this iconic Toscana IGT favours finesse over opulence.
Montevertine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Colorino grapes. The wine is fermented in traditional cement vats and aged for approximately 24 months in large Slavonian oak casks, preserving purity of fruit and expression of terroir rather than emphasising oak influence.
The story of Montevertine began in 1967, when Sergio Manetti purchased a small property as a country retreat. What started as a passion project soon evolved into one of Tuscany’s most revered estates. In the 1970s, Montevertine challenged prevailing Chianti regulations by rejecting the mandatory inclusion of white grapes and championing a blend based exclusively on traditional red Tuscan varieties, led by Sangiovese. This commitment to terroir and indigenous grapes helped establish the estate as one of the pioneers of Tuscany’s qualitative renaissance.
Le Pergole Torte, the estate’s flagship wine, is among Italy’s most celebrated expressions of Sangiovese. First produced in 1977, it was revolutionary for its time. While many Tuscan producers were experimenting with international grape varieties, Sergio Manetti chose the opposite path, creating a wine made exclusively from Sangiovese sourced from the estate’s finest vineyard parcels. The result was a wine that demonstrated the extraordinary potential of pure Sangiovese long before it became fashionable.
Beyond its quality, Le Pergole Torte has become an icon of Italian wine culture. Since 1982, every vintage has featured artwork by the acclaimed Italian artist Alberto Manfredi, making each bottle instantly recognisable and highly collectible.
A few years ago, I tasted the 2010 vintage. Unfortunately, I was not yet writing a wine blog at the time.
I received this bottle as a gift several years ago. It currently sells online for around 60 CHF, while Le Pergole Torte 2010 commands approximately 360 CHF.
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino
Type: Red
Vintage: 2018
Producer: Montevertine
Price range: Extra (50-100 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 5/5