Vinous

• By Antonio Galloni
  Central & Southern Italy: A World Waiting to be Discovered (Apr 2009) (link)

  (Falesco Montiano) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  5/11/2010 (link)

  (MONTAINO) Merlot Dear Friends, As far as Merlot is concerned, the world has many incarnations (including the lauded examples from our state) but a distinct style has emerged in coastal Italy and beyond, with Masseto the king of queens. Further down the coast, in Lazio, another stalwart has finally come of age. Despite the fact that Falesco's Montiano has the pedigree as one of the highest scoring examples in the history of the Wine Advocate (year in and year out) and has won multiple Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri awards, the 2006 tastes and feels like the first rendition that truly deserve the attention. Maybe it's the fabulous vintage that graced most of central/coastal Italy in 2006 (see Bolgheri et al) or maybe it's just a process of growing up and listening to your critics, but the entire 2006 stable from Falesco is a coming out party that performs like the brand new heavies. You can forget your preconceptions about Montiano and check them at the door. Email list members have always had problems with previous vintages of this wine ("too extracted", "too commercial", "too blah blah") but the 2006 will dispel those inconvenient truths in a hurry. The vines are older and the high elevation near Lago di Bolsena is blessed with a mix of volcanic, rocky soil that gives the new vintage a deft elegance like no predecessor from this vineyard. In 2006, a velveteen butterfly has emerged from a chrysalis that began to form in 2005. Gone are the extract tricks and stuffing-on-top-of-stuffing antics - it their place you will find a layered, genteel and feminine flower with true varietal definition that lingers on the palate without causing a ruckus. Yes, there is new oak but the treatment is no different than any of the highly touted 2009 Pomerols. The 2006 Montiano is bottle of Merlot that can stand proudly with Tuscany's best not to mention those of the Right Bank It has the breed one looks for in Bordeaux but the playful, sultry character of wine from Tuscany. Despite this new-found adult style, Falesco did not give up on the Italian savoir-faire (or more appropriately, a sense of "salute!") that is paramount to the wine's direction - a direction rarely found near the Gironde and one of central Italy's trump cards. If Masseto and Vieux Chëteau Certain were the original inspirations for Montiano, the 2006 comes the closest to synthesizing the two styles into a wine that firmly commands it's price. A head-turner of a wine that will wake up the nay-sayers and surprise others with its overall sense of quality without forcing the issue as in past years: A wine you can be proud to serve as an accompaniment to a fine meal and never worry that it will become the meal itself. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price directly from the winery cellar: 2006 Montiano (Falesco)(GR3) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy3469

RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  5/13/2009 (link) 92 points

  (Falesco Lazio Montiano) Nice black fruit and plum nose with lift; plush black fruit and charcoal palate; medium finish