2020 Noceto Sangiovese, Shenandoah Valley, California, Amador County

Double Gold Medal ~ Amador County Fair
92 Points ~ Wine Enthusiast
91 Points ~ Planet Grape
Gold, 95 points ~ California State Fair
Gold ~ 2024 The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold ~ 2023 Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition

Tasting Notes

Noceto’s flagship Sangiovese is modeled after an Old World Tuscan Chianti - medium-bodied, beautiful acidity, fruit-packed, easy-drinking, well-balanced, and extremely versatile with food. This wine is widely regarded as "the best Sangiovese in California:’ (Dan Berger, Darrell Corti, Mike Dunne, Elaine Taylor). 2020 marks Noceto’s 31st vintage.

The 2020 Noceto Sangiovese is ripe and bright, with cherry fruit at its center and a lingering palate. Secondary flavors include cassis, cranberry, rich plum, peppery spice, and light oak. Exceptionally food-friendly: Pair with red sauces, spicy ethnic foods, and light meats.

Vineyards

Grapes are from 14 separate lots -98 % from five clonal Sangiovese selections and 2% Canaiolo Nero. Made with 100% Estate vines, including cuttings sourced from Isole e Olena (47%) in Chianti as well as 11 Poggione (31%), Altesino (12%), and Biondi Santi (3%) in Montalcino. Each lot is harvested and fermented separately prior to selective blending.

Winemaking

The fruit is cold-soaked i-2 days, then, fermented in stainless steel bins and French oak for 7-10 days at 70°-85° Fahrenheit to preserve bright varietal characteristics. The wine ages in 130-gallon, predominantly French oak puncheon to soften youthful tannins.

Specs

• Vintage: 2020
• Varietal: Sangiovese
• Appellation: Shenandoah Valley, California
• Harvested Aug 27 - Sep 26, 2020
• Bottled March 7-8, 2022
• Alcohol 13.9%
• Production: 2,600 cases

2020 Noceto Dos Oakies Sangiovese, Shenandoah Valley, California

91 ~ Connoisseurs’ Guide
Silver ~ 2023 Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition
Silver ~ 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Tasting Notes

The 2020 Dos Oakies is layered, complex, and well-balanced, with great structure and classic Italian flavors. It displays dark cherry fruit and earthiness with a touch of leather, oak, and salty ocean air. It pairs well with grilled or roasted meats, steak Florentine, rich pasta, or heavy, spicy dishes like curry.

Vineyards

The oldest section of the estate vineyard, planted in 1988, the Dos Oakies block is located on the winery parcel, immediately east of the Tasting Room. The name originates from the twin oaks that flanked the vineyard, though one has since fallen in a storm. Cuttings for this block were smuggled into the country in the early 70s and conveniently planted a few miles down the road at a neighboring vineyard.

Winemaking

The fruit is crushed, and cold-soaked for 1 to 2 days, followed by fermentation in a combination of French oak puncheons and stainless steel punch-down tanks for 11 days at 70°-85° Fahrenheit to preserve bright varietal characteristics. The wine is aged for 19 months across two stages in a mixture of stainless steel tanks as well as 130-gallon French oak puncheons, 50% new.

Specs

• Vintage: 2020
• Varietal: Sangiovese
• Appellation: Shenandoah Valley, California
• Harvested: Sept 25 & 26, 2020
• Bottled: May 16, 2022
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Production: 217 cases

2020 Noceto Riserva Sangiovese, Shenandoah Valley

Gold Medal ~ SF Chronicle Wine Competition, Winemaker Challenge
93 Points ~ Planet Grape
92 Points ~ Wine Enthusiast
Silver ~ 2023 Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition

Tasting Notes

The 2020 Riserva Sangiovese delivers fruit-packed flavor, including dried cranberries, pomegranate, and cherry. Displays multi-faceted, earthy complexity while retaining balance and fruitiness that’s complemented by a lingering finish. Food friendly: pair with grilled or roasted meats and rich pasta dishes.

Noceto’s Brunello-style Riserva Sangiovese is blended from the best estate lots and displays superior fruit while retaining balance. Fruit-packed, full-flavored, and complex with a lingering finish.

Vineyards

100% estate Sangiovese Grosso from two different Brunello clones (cuttings sourced from 11 Poggione and Biondi Santi vineyards). Each component is harvested and fermented separately prior to selective blending.

Winemaking

The fruit is gently crushed and cold-soaked for 1 to 2 days, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks, bins, and new 130-gallon French oak barrels. The wine is aged for 20 months in 130-gallon French oak puncheons, 40% new, to soften youthful tannins and gently age the wine.

Specs

• Vintage: 2020
• Varietal: Sangiovese
• Appellation: Shenandoah Valley, California
• Harvested: Sep 8 - 25, 2020
• Bottled: May 16, 2022
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Production: 540 cases

Non-Vintage Noceto Rosso Sangiovese di California

Tasting Notes

Noceto’s Rosso is a predominantly Sangiovese blend sourced from vineyards throughout the central coast and northern California. Made in a food-friendly Chianti style, this is a simple, easy-drinking go-to for an everyday red that will go with everything on your plate.

NV Rosso opens with a nose of cherry-berry, fruit roll-up, and cedar. Secondary flavors include bright cherry, cassis, leather, minerality, and balanced acid. Exceptionally food-friendly, you can pair it with anything you have on your plate - from charcuterie to Barese ragù or Korma!

Vineyards

Grapes were sourced from multiple vineyards ranging from the central coast (Brutocao) through northern California (Noceto and Sidney Davis). In addition to Sangiovese, we also selected Sagrantino, Alicante Bouschet, and Canaiolo Nero. Each lot is harvested and fermented separately prior to selective blending.

Winemaking

2022 was a challenging year due to frost and a late-season heat wave. It really pushed winemaker Rusty Folena to take into account that every vineyard was different and that he had to adjust his winemaking to those vineyards. “That’s why there is no recipe,” says Rusty. The fruit was cold-soaked for 24 hours, then fermented in a combination of stainless steel, bins, and French oak (depending on the vineyard) for 7-10 days at 70°-85° Fahrenheit to preserve bright varietal characteristics. The wine is aged in 130-gallon, predominantly French oak puncheons to soften youthful tannins.

Specs

• Vintage: Non-Vintage
• Varietals: Sangiovese
• Appellation: California
• Harvested Sep - Oct 2022
• Bottled Oct 16, 2024
• Alcohol 13.0% ABV
• Cases 1,483

What’s Included

6-bottles:

• 2x 2020 Noceto Sangiovese, Amador County
• 1x 2020 Noceto Dos Oakies Sangiovese
• 1x 2020 Noceto Riserva Sangiovese
• 2x Non-Vintage Noceto Rosso Sangiovese di California

Case:

• 2x 2020 Noceto Riserva Sangiovese
• 1x 2020 Noceto Dos Oakies Sangiovese
• 6x 2020 Noceto Sangiovese, Amador County
• 3x Non-Vintage Noceto Rosso Sangiovese di California

Price Comparison

Not all wines for sale on winery website, $326/case MSRP

About The Winery

• Winery: Vino Noceto
• Owners: Suzy and Jim Gullett
• Founded: 1987
• Location: Plymouth, CA

Vino Noceto has been making “California’s Best Sangiovese” for over 25 years. Located in beautiful Amador County, we now make eight different Sangioveses as well as an Old Vine Zinfandel, a slightly sparkling Moscato called Frivolo, Barbera, a Tuscan Red Blend, Pinot Grigio, and more!

On their nearly forty acres they now have twenty-five acres of grapes, almost all Sangiovese, five acres of olive trees, 200 lilac bushes, and two acres of walnut trees, each contributing revenue to the farm. Buildings include their 1887 renovated ranch house, winery and tasting room buildings, and several rustic barns and outbuildings. From only 110 cases of Sangiovese in its inaugural 1990 vintage, the winery now produces 8,000 cases of wine annually. This includes 5,000 cases of nine different Sangioveses, 1,500 cases of a lively Moscato blend called Frivolo, plus an old vine Zinfandel from the Original Grandpere Vineyard, Barbera, Aglianico, and Pinot Grigio. Then there’s always some grappa when you need a nightcap – but that’s another story!

Why Noceto? Noceto means walnut grove in Italian, and walnuts were a staple crop for the farm where the Noceto estate now stands. Noceto, Italy, near Parma, is the sister city of Suzy’s native town of Walnut Creek. Plus the name is short, simple, and easily said if not necessarily properly pronounced!

Available States

AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY

Estimated Delivery

Monday, Feb 24 - Wednesday, Feb 26

Noceto Mixed Sangiovese
6 bottles for $89.99 $15/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $149.99 $12.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping

2020 Noceto Sangiovese
2020 Noceto Dos Oakies Sangiovese
2020 Noceto Riserva Sangiovese
NV Noceto Rosso

So happy to see Noceto back. Didn’t think we’d ever see them on here again. Thank you Suzy and WineDavid. We just love their wines. Auto buy but can I resist buying 2 cases