Hans Herzog Estate - Marlborough Montepulciano

Montepulciano 2021

Regular price $95.00 Sale

 

Our iconic Montepulciano commands attention with remarkable depth, power and complexity. Grown on the hottest plot of our vineyard, these low-yielding vines achieve perfect ripeness, creating a wine of immense concentration, elegance and sumptuousness. A powerful, emotional wine to savour slowly.

Vintage 2021+

Another exceptional growing season, perfect for the late-ripening, powerful Montepulciano. No cost or effort was spared in the vineyard: spur pruning, meticulous shoot thinning, precise leaf plucking, and rigorous bunch thinning ensured the purest expression of this noble variety. Yields were kept extraordinarily low at just 600g per vine, allowing for perfect physiological ripeness, natural concentration, and remarkable complexity, capturing the very soul of Hans’ winegrowing. 

Hans' Winemaking Comments+

Perfectly healthy, destemmed grapes underwent an extended cold soak, unlocking deep flavours and beneficial antioxidants from the skins. A slow, cool fermentation with wild yeasts followed, allowing for a gentle extraction and extended post-maceration to build structure and depth. After a delicate pressing, the young wine was transferred into seasoned French barriques, where 36 months of slow maturation allowed the tannins and acidity to integrate seamlessly. The subtle oxygen exchange refined the texture, enhancing complexity without overwhelming wood influence. The result is a beautifully balanced, layered wine with the depth to evolve for decades. No fining. No filtration. Pure, natural expression. 

Tasting Notes+

A commanding and deeply structured wine revealing layers of dark fruit, savoury spice and remarkable concentration. Silky yet powerful tannins are balanced by vibrant freshness, giving the wine impressive depth and drive.

Technical Data +
 Variety 100% Montepulciano
Rootstock

101.14 / Riparia Gloire

Vine Planted
1996
Soil

Shallow (<45cm) stony, gravel and sandy soil. Well drained, developed from stony alluvium. Not one row shows the same soil type.

Planting Density 5,500 vines/ha
Yield 2t/ha
Alcohol 14%
Residual Sugar <1g/L
Ageing Potential 15+ years
Bottles Produced 1470
Food Matching Suggestions+

Enjoy this powerhouse with pasta or a perfectly grilled T-bone steak. Perhaps a touch of overindulgence... but this powerful wine thrives alongside hearty, generous dishes. Equally, it’s a joy to sip on its own at the end of the day, working quietly, and quite wonderfully, as a natural sleeping pill.