Marche Rosso “Kurni”
Kurni is produced from 36 acres of vines in sandy soils on south-facing slopes. Head-trained (alberello) vines are so drastically pruned in winter that green harvests during the growing season are never necessary—the vines produce only a tiny fraction of the maximum yields legally permitted in the appellation. For newer plots, to keep yields low, Casolanetti planted at an almost unheard-of density—up to 16,000 plants an acre—leaving just about 20 inches between vines.
Appellation: Marche Rosso IGT
Type: Red, dry
Varietal: 100% Montepulciano
About the Montepulciano grape variety: Montepulciano vines are planted over a large part of central Italy, and it is an authorized variety in 20 of the 95 Italian provinces. But it is widely planted above all in two regions: Abruzzo, where it is the source of the excellent Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and the Marche, where it is an important component of DOC red wines such as Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno. It is cultivated as well in the regions of Molise and Puglia. Montelpulciano is capable of producing a reliable quantity of mature, deeply colored grapes that result in wines with a healthy level of alcohol and extract. The variety has a large quantity of anthocyanins (the substances that give color to red wine).
Color: Deep dark red.
Bouquet: Deep and rich aromas of dark fruit and earth with layers of complex spice.
Taste: Dense and rich with dried and candied fruit notes, the wine can verge on sweet, but is balanced by bright acidity and fine tannins.
Alcohol: 14-15% (varies with vintage).
Serving Suggestion: Serve at a 18-20 °C°C (64-68°F) We recommend decanting before serving the wine as there is no of fining or filtration. As a result, there may be some natural CO2 present in the wine. All of these practices are intended to maintain the integrity of all the components of the fruit from the vineyard and to let them speak as clearly as possible from the bottle.
Pairing: A great match with foods that are slow cooked, flavorful but delicate, such as beef short ribs, osso buco, or lamb shanks.
Production area: Cupra Marittima (Ascoli Piceno), Marche, Italy.
Vineyard: 9.75 hectares (24.0 acres); no use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
Elevation: 100-250 meters (330-820 feet) a.s.l.
Exposure: South.
Soil: Loose, pebbly, sandy, silty, with chalk.
Vine density: Older plantings: 7,000 vines / hectare (2,850 vines / acre); Younger plantings: 13,000, 15,000, and 22,000 vines / hectare (5,300, 6,100, and 8,900 vines / acre).
Vine training method: Spurred cordon and bush-trained.
Average age of vines: 60 years.
Yield: 1,800 kg/ha (0.8 tons/acre).
Time and method of harvest: by the middle of October.
Vinification: 60% vertical barriques, 40% stainless steel (without temperature control).
Fermentation time: 10-15 days.
Maceration time: 20-25 days.
Malolactic fermentation: In wood, naturally and slowly.
First Year of Poduction: 1997.
Aging: In barriques (20% new) from various coopers per 20-22 months.
Bottling: Without fining or filtration.
Annual production: About 5,700 bottles.
2001 Kurni – 92 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Apr. 2004)
2002 Kurni – 92 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Apr. 2006)
2004 Kurni – 93 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Feb 2008)
2005 Kurni – 90 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Feb. 2008)
2006 Kurni – 93 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Apr. 2009)
2007 Kurni – 96 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Jun. 2010)
2009 Kurni – 89 Points – Vinous Media (Feb 2013)
"The flagship 2009 Marche Rosso Kurni is another in a series of wines that pushes the boundaries of what is possible with Montepulciano. Plums, black cherries, mocha, espresso, blackberry jam and menthol are woven together in a seamless frabic that covers every inch of the palate. A cross between Montepulciano and Amarone, the Kurni impresses for its voluptuous, silky personality that is the result of low yields and an approach that calls for partially drying the fruit. With time in the glass, the new French oak becomes increasingly apparent. Todatm the 2009 is a bit bombastic. It will be interesting to see if it settles down over time. Kurni remains one of the most interesting and distinctive wines in Italy, although I have to be honest, the last two vintages have been less exciting than some of the great wines of the past.” ~ A.G.
2010 Kurni - 91 Points - Wine Spectator (2014)
"A rich and ripe style, reminiscent of an Amarone, with flavors of black cherry coulis, date and gumdrop accented by hints of aged balsamico, mocha and smoke. The fine-grained tannins and juicy acidity provide structure and balance, while the lingering finish echoes the ripe fruit. Montepulciano." –AN
