Lamborghini (La Fiorita)
Campoleone Umbria Sangiovese Merlot
Umbria, Italy
Let’s just get the obvious out of the way: yes, it’s THAT Lamborghini. After Ferruccio retired from building cars and tractors, he bought the La Fiorita estate in Umbria and he took up winemaking. I’ve had the good fortune to enjoy a few different vintages of “Campoleone”, their most serious wine, over the years but it’s often a bit of a challenge to find in the middle of the US. It’s traditionally a 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Merlot and labeled as an IGT. I had two bottles of the 2001 vintage in my cellar and decided to open one because, why not? As luck would have it, the first one was corked. Might as well open the second! That’s more like it!
Popped and poured a small glass for myself. The 2001 “Campoleone” pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core moving out towards an orange rim; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. Some faint signs of sediment too. On the nose, it seemed a bit reticent so I took Tim Heaton’s lead, based off his fabulous note from back in 2017. Into the decanter it went while I prepared dinner. I ended up leaving about 2oz in the bottle as it was full of sediment; almost a muddy sludge. After about 90 minutes, the nose came alive!
Developing still, after 23 years! Beautiful notes of plums, brambles, purple flowers, leather, tobacco, green herbs and spice drawer. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins (though well integrated at this stage) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, dry and zippy. What a tasty treat and I can’t underscore how youthful this seemed! Based off this experience, well-stored examples are drinking well now with a 1-2 hour decant or enjoy through 2031 with ease.
Let’s just get the obvious out of the way: yes, it’s THAT Lamborghini. After Ferruccio retired from building cars and tractors, he bought the La Fiorita estate in Umbria and he took up winemaking. I’ve had the good fortune to enjoy a few different vintages of “Campoleone”, their most serious wine, over the years but it’s often a bit of a challenge to find in the middle of the US. It’s traditionally a 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Merlot and labeled as an IGT. I had two bottles of the 2001 vintage in my cellar and decided to open one because, why not? As luck would have it, the first one was corked. Might as well open the second! That’s more like it!
Popped and poured a small glass for myself. The 2001 “Campoleone” pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core moving out towards an orange rim; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. Some faint signs of sediment too. On the nose, it seemed a bit reticent so I took Tim Heaton’s lead, based off his fabulous note from back in 2017. Into the decanter it went while I prepared dinner. I ended up leaving about 2oz in the bottle as it was full of sediment; almost a muddy sludge. After about 90 minutes, the nose came alive!
Developing still, after 23 years! Beautiful notes of plums, brambles, purple flowers, leather, tobacco, green herbs and spice drawer. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins (though well integrated at this stage) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, dry and zippy. What a tasty treat and I can’t underscore how youthful this seemed! Based off this experience, well-stored examples are drinking well now with a 1-2 hour decant or enjoy through 2031 with ease.
Berry dry sangio merlot . Family dinner . Love this Umbrian vino
Berry dry sangio merlot . Family dinner . Love this Umbrian vino
Sep 27th, 2014