Falesco, Montiano Kosher, 2014
Falesco, Montiano Kosher, 2014
- 75cl
- 15%
- Red Still
- Merlot
- Kosher
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2028
Together with the celebrated and impeccable Marciliano, this producer represents the old (and consolidated) guard of the wines of the last century. Their muscular, fruity and full-bodied wines lift the level of Umbrian wines above all thanks to an enologist like Riccardo Cotarella, who is the standard bearer of wines made in the area of Orvieto as well as the area itself.
It has a wonderful, deep, ruby red colour, a wide aromatic range of scents in which delicious vanilla notes, small red fruit, layers of jam and sweet spices combine. The taste appears to have a full aristocratic roundness and softness, with quite elegant, agreeable and lingering flavours.
What the critics say:
"Fantastic merlot here with black-olive, blackberry and nutmeg undertones. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a delicious finish. Give it a year to come together."
The Montiano vineyard sits in the rolling hills around Orvieto in southern Umbria, where volcanic soils meet clay and limestone deposits. The warm continental climate, moderated by altitude and cooling breezes from nearby Lake Corbara, creates ideal conditions for merlot to ripen slowly while retaining freshness. These mineral-rich, well-draining soils contribute the wine's distinctive savoury complexity and firm structure, whilst the sun exposure ensures the generous fruit character that defines the style.
Umbria IGT allows producers like Cotarella the freedom to work with international varieties like merlot alongside traditional grapes. Unlike the more restrictive DOC classifications, this designation enables experimentation whilst maintaining quality standards, particularly important for pioneering producers elevating the region's reputation. The classification has become synonymous with some of central Italy's most ambitious wines, as producers use the flexibility to create distinctive expressions of their terroir without the constraints of traditional blending rules.
The 2014 vintage in Lazio arrived after a challenging growing season that tested producers across the region. A cool, wet spring delayed budbreak and flowering, followed by a summer that swung between periods of intense heat and unexpected rainfall. The uneven conditions meant careful vineyard management separated the wheat from the chaff, with the best producers employing rigorous selection both in the vineyard and winery to craft wines of real distinction.
What emerged was a vintage of surprising character and quality, particularly for those willing to wait. The Frascati producers who took their time with harvest captured wines with lovely mineral tension and aromatic intensity that's drinking beautifully now. Cesanese showed particular promise, developing the kind of savoury depth and structured tannins that make these reds so compelling. Most 2014 Lazio wines hit their stride around 2018 and remain in fine form until 2026, though the best reds from producers like Sergio Mottura and Casale del Giglio will reward patience for several years yet.
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