Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
Nereus originated at Contrada Tenna in the Piceno area of Marche. The approximately 8-hectare property was acquired in February 2001 after its vineyard had been abandoned for three years. At acquisition, the vineyard was divided roughly equally between Montepulciano and Sangiovese.
The surviving vines were renewed from below after their trunks had been cut back. The entire vineyard was restructured and trained using the estate's fan-shaped system. More than two-thirds of it consisted of original vines that were already over 40 years old in 2001. This training method reduced the size of the Montepulciano bunches.
Grapes
Nereus was made from the property's Montepulciano.
Ageing
The last two vintages, 2009 and 2010, matured for as long as seven years in small oak barrels.
Vintage notes
Results improved progressively as experience with the vineyard and the vinification of Montepulciano developed. The project reached its culmination with the final 2009 and 2010 vintages.
Label / history
The Contrada Tenna project began after the discovery of an abandoned property in 2000 and its acquisition in 2001. The aim was to explore whether the naturally dense and rich character of its Montepulciano could also achieve elegance.
Production under the Contrada Tenna identity ended after the 2010 vintage. The vineyard continued to be cultivated directly in 2011 and 2012, but a legal change prevented the wine from being made outside its production area in the estate's Friuli cellar and sold as Contrada Tenna. The Montepulciano wine from the project was bottled under the name Nereus.
