“Il Falcone” Rosso Castel del Monte Riserva DOCG 2019

Rivera | Puglia
Azienda Vinicola Rivera S.p.A. | S.P. 231 km 60,500 | IT 76123 Andria

15112419 · 0,75 l · 23,47 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Il Falcone is a famous Riserva from the heart of the DOCG Castel del Monte, named after the famous hunting falcon of Emperor Frederick II. The Nero di Troia and Montepulciano grape varieties come from the best hillside vineyards at an altitude of 250 to 300 metres. After around 14 months of ageing in large wooden barrels and barriques, it presents a dark ruby colour with garnet-red reflections in the glass. Ripe blackberry, black cherry, tobacco leaf, some leather and balsamic herbs on the nose. Powerful yet finely balanced on the palate, with robust tannins, mineral tension and a spicy, long final. A serious, historic wine with elegance, structure and clear provenance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark, rich and oak-inflected, the 2019 Rosso Riserva Il Falcone slowly opens with a dusting of cacao and brown spice, giving way to crushed violets and dried black cherries. This is velvety in texture, showing admirable weight and potency, with masses of ripe red berry fruits that saturate under an air of rosy inner florals. Chalky mineral tones linger through the dramatically long and slightly chewy finale as a pleasantly bitter tinge lingers on. I’d prefer less wood on the nose, but I can’t argue with the balance here." Vinous

"This is one of the banner wines of Puglia, recognized far and wide as one of the bottles in the so-called Puglia Wine Renaissance that sparked about two decades ago. The 2019 Castel del Monte Riserva Il Falcone is 70% Nero di Troia and 30% Montepulciano with fruit selected from across various estate vineyards, such as the Tenuta Rivera, Torre di Bocca, Coppa and Tafuri plots, with a mix of loose calcareous and tuffaceous soils. This wine offers a lighter and more approachable style compared to the super ripe and jammy wines made further south in the Salento. This is the Castel del Monte area in the northern Murge plateau, home to the Nero di Troia grape; it is considered one of the most prestigious wine areas in the region. This wine is many times more balanced and fresh with tart cherry and plum over a moderate to full mouthfeel." Wine Advocate