December 16, 2024
Rare Allocation: Montevertine Le Pergole Torte
Photo: from Vinous.com
“There are many pedigreed wines in the world, but some rise above that level and move into the stratosphere of the truly iconic. Montevertine’s Le Pergole Torte is one of those wines because it weaves together so many strands of history and culture. Le Pergole Torte is a wine of tradition and innovation. It is a wine that speaks to the potential of Sangiovese and the unique attributes of Radda in Chianti. But above all else, Pergole Torte is a reflection of its creator. The late Sergio Manetti was an industrialist, an intellectual and a man of deep culture. His spirit permeates through these wines.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte is a benchmark for Sangiovese, showcasing the pure varietal expression from Radda in Chianti's high-altitude vineyards. Crafted without blending other grape varieties, it defies DOCG rules, embodying an authentic sense of terroir. The meticulous production process reflects Montevertine’s unwavering dedication to traditional winemaking methods. Known for its elegance and longevity, Le Pergole Torte offers vibrant cherry and floral notes , complemented by refined tannins—a hallmark of its unique balance between power and finesse.
First produced in 1977, Le Pergole Torte is synonymous with the vision of Sergio Manetti, Montevertine's founder. Each vintage underscores the winery's commitment to excellence, with nuanced differences shaped by growing conditions. Its iconic hand-drawn labels add an artistic touch, perfectly complementing the wine's creative spirit. Consistently praised by critics, Le Pergole Torte stands among Italy’s most celebrated wines, demonstrating a remarkable capacity to age gracefully and making it a prized addition to any collector’s cellar.
Today, we are offering two vintages, the 2019 and 2020 Le Pergole Torte. Both wines score highly from Vinous and the Wine Advocate, with the 2019 being best suited for cellaring to further develop its complexity. The 2020, by contrast, shows remarkable precision and depth, embodying Antonio Galloni’s description as a "modern-day classic" with its balance of power and elegance. Monica Larner followed suit , calling the 2020 “one of the best wines from this vintage in the region for sure.”
Both vintages highlight Montevertine’s mastery, offering collectors and enthusiasts a profound expression of Sangiovese at its finest. This wine is rarely available, so fans of Montevertine should seize this opportunity to secure a bottle.
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte 2020
98 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Le Pergole Torte is a total stunner. Rich, sumptuous and layered, the 2020 possesses exceptional balance and class to burn. The 2020 is an opulent, racy and super-expressive wine with no hard edges and exceptional balance. Readers will find a super-classic Pergole Torte endowed with tremendous fruit purity. Dark-toned fruit, lavender, sage, graphite and spice build into a potent laced with a kiss of French oak and enough tannin to ensure fabulous development in the cellar.
96 Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner
This latest vintage of one of Italy's most important wines has an almost choreographed delivery with dramatic pause and high crescendos as it unfolds over the palate. The Montevertine 2020 Le Pergole Torte feels initially shy, but that is a fleeting impression because its all-around intensity builds beautifully upon dark cherry, blackcurrant, spice, iris root and warm earth. Those notes are followed by a delicate floral interlude, and the wine builds upward again with a very bright and lively mouthfeel fueled by fine tannins and lovely freshness. It is fleshy and rich. This is one of the best wines from this vintage in the region for sure. Production is 30,000 bottles.
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte 2019
97 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni
The 2019 Le Pergole Torte is all class and refinement. At the same time, the 2019 is quite reticent at this stage. In this tasting, the Pergole Torte comes across as more refined and aromatically expressive than the Montevertine, with lovely brightness driving the red berry fruit. Elegant and sophisticated, the 2019 is a wine to treasure for the next several decades. Time in the glass brings out the floral upper register and red Sangiovese fruit of Pergole Torte.
97 Points | Wine Advocate. Monica Larner
Holding back initially, this wine simply needs more time in bottle, and I have adjusted the drinking window accordingly. The 2019 Le Pergole Torte is a long-term proposition showing initial stirrings of tart cherry fruit, plum, licorice, tobacco and crushed stone. There is a pretty floral tone of violet or rosemary flower even now. Winemaking takes this special selection of 100% Sangiovese though cement and Allier and Slavonian oak. The balanced acidity stands out nicely. There are 29,000 bottles of the 2019 vintage, and I recommend you put yours in the cellar for five to 10 more years.