Does anyplace fit our mind's-eye image of wine country like Tuscany? Rolling landscapes covered by vines and olive groves, medieval towers dotting the hillsides, a land of sunshine and history, and with Chianti and Brunello, some of the most famous names in history of world wine.

And Tuscan wines have been hot these days, more than ever, with the press, and therefore the marketplace, giving most of their attention to the resurgence of Chianti, the majesty of Brunello, and the bold new wave of Super Tuscans.

So, in order to find you a smoking deal, we went searching outside the spotlight, and found this gem in one of the oldest zones of the region. Not to be confused with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which is an entirely different grape from a different region, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of the grand wines of Italy.The "noble" wines of Montepulciano date back to Roman times, documented by the historian Livy 2,000 years ago, and there are documents on vineyard rights dating back to the 9th Century, and already trade and export regulations by 1350! And they were drunk with pleasure by Thomas Jefferson, our nation's original Wine Guy.   

Yet they've become the forgotten middle child of Tuscan wine, never quite garnering the same lavish praise as their neighbors. Less demand has made them a relative steal, if you know where to look...and when it comes to Italian wines, we've got a few contacts up our sleeves...

Fattoria Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2009 - regularly $24.99 - Under $20 Deals to follow! 

92 pts Wine Advocate

How excited are we over this one? Uh... there are only four other Tuscan wines from the outstanding 2009 vintage to score 92 points or better and sell for under $20...  

And with our best deal price on this, we are beating the best price in the country on any of them!!!

Cerro's been around since 1978, and with the financial resources of Italian powerhouse SAI Agricola behind them, they've spared no expense in pursuing an individual yet typical style of Vino Nobile. Their aim is to reflect the inland region's terroir and history, while still delivering an accessible, pleasurable wine with broad appeal.

And they are knocking it out of the park.

Want to know what Tuscan wine should smell like? Stick your nose in this baby...black tea, cedar, violets, a hint of anise...and fresh black cherries galore.

They've got a special clone of Sangiovese in these parts, called Prugnolo Gentile - "gentle wild plum" - which is similar to Brunello in that it provides a richer, fuller profile than Chianti. Here Cerro uses 90% Prugnolo Gentile, and to blend they stick with indigenous Tuscan grapes instead of adding Merlot or Cab. 5% Colorino adds dark, inviting color, and 5% Mammolo gives that lovely floral lift to the aromas.

Sip this wine and more black cherry fruit comes to the fore, along with red and black raspberry and a dark core of plum fruit, surrounded by hints of tobacco and new leather. The mouthfeel is completely smooth and supple.

While their blend leans toward the traditional camp, Cerro employs star winemaker Riccardo Cotarella - the man behind Falesco, and one of the most sought-after consultants in Italy - to lead them in the winery. He aims for purity of fruit, and soft, supple tannins, aging this for 2 years in French oak, 70% in large casks and 30% smaller barriques that add a creamy, mocha note to the wine.

Pleasantly medium/medium plus in body, you could pair this with a simple pasta dish, preferably with a Bolognese sauce or Italian sausage, and it's even got the body to hold up to braised meats and steak.

My pick would be a nice stewy Chicken cacciatore...season a quartered roaster, put in your Dutch oven with some olive oil to brown then take out...add some onions, mushrooms, and garlic until they soften...then add your herbs and spices, rosemary, oregano, pepper flake, plus some tomato sauce and water, add the chicken back and some sliced peppers, cover and bake for an hour and quarter. Serve with polenta, and a bottle of this, and enjoy!

"The 2009 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wraps around the palate with succulent dark cherries, mint, tobacco, licorice and new leather. The 2009 boasts gorgeous inner perfume and luscious fruit, all supported by firm yet beautifully integrated tannins. The Rosso is 90% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% Colorino and 5% Mammolo, aged 70% in cask and 30% in barrique. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019."

The Deal-  Like I said, there are only four other Tuscan wines from the outstanding 2009 vintage to score 92 points or better and sell for under $20...  

And with our best deal price on this, we are beating the best price in the country on any of them!!!

Little ole wine shop in the middle of a college town in North Carolina... ouch... hurt myself self back-patting again... hey, you should pat yourself as well, since you are smart enough to be shopping with us! Be careful to stretch first...

Anyway, run, don't walk to order some of this baby!

Grab a case and you'll pay $15.89 per bottle - a 36% savings off the regular price!

Six bottles? Sure... $17.99 per bottle - a 28% savings!

A deal on three? Why not? $18.99 per bottle - 24% off.

And what the heck, how 'bout a deal on just one bottle? $19.99 - 20% off.

A chance for everyone to get in on the action and enjoy one of Tuscany's finest wines!

Click here to order. Or hit reply. Or call us!