It is not unlikely that Montepeloso, along with it neighbor Tua Rita, produced a large number of Italy’s best wines in 2002. Their zone, the Val di Cornia, obviously escaped the worst rains of the vintage, but temperatures were unquestionably well below average here as in other parts of Italy, and precipitation significantly higher. But owner Fabio Chiarelotto is a tireless worker in the vineyards, and he and his winemaker Fabrizio Moltard, Angelo Gaja’s former vineyard manager in Tuscany, clearly made no compromises in the selection of the grapes. This is obvious from the start with the 2002 Eneo, which might be considered the regular bottling of the house, fresh and vigorous in its expression of berry fruit, leather, and game and with an important length and continuity for the vintage. Importer: The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484