1999 also coincided with one the best Umbrian harvests in a generation, and American wine guru, Robert Parker, awarded the Villa Fidelia vintage from that year a staggering 96 points. However from a business point of view it was a master-stroke American and Japanese markets take some persuading to go with the unfamiliar, but the new Villa Fidelia Rosso produced a wine familiar in its make-up, but undeniably Umbrian in its terroir. From a purely selfish point of view I regret the change of blend the unusual inclusion of Pinot Noir produced a wonderful, distinctive wine and I regret its passing. Brave enough to take on advice from an external consultant, they progressively moved focus towards quality, removed the lower grade wines from their range, and relaunched their flagship wine as a Bordeaux look-a-like replacing the Pinot Noir with Cabernet Franc. Remo and Ernesto Sportoletti have their soul in Umbrian tradition, but are very creative and ambitious winemakers. I didn't know it at the time but that year Sportoletti were on the cusp of tremendous changes. I bought a case of Villa Fidelia Rosso 1997, a blend of Merlot, Carbernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir to this day I believe it is the best case of wine I have ever bought. In those days it was a much more rustic operation than today but I can remember vividly the passion that Remo Sportoletti showed as he took my friends and I round the production facilities, and pride he took in describing the wines they were producing at that time. Our personal favorite! This item has been specifically selected by a member of our knowledgeable staff as offering exceptional quality, value, or both!Ī Kosher wine begins like every other, as grapes on the vine, but then is made under strict rabbinical supervision.I visited the Sportoletti vineyard for the first time in 1999. What more can we say? This item is only available in the United States through WHWC. Whether it's the last few bottles of a previous vintage or we've received an exceptional deal from a supplier on a discontinued wine, we'll offer it at an unbeatable closeout price! It over-delivers on quality, but comes in at a price well under what its level of quality would normally command. This item is among the tried-and-true, standout performers in our inventory, a staple of the WHWC selection and a customer favorite! Uses sustainable, organic and/or biodynamic practices in the vineyard and/or winemaking process, as certified by various domestic and international organizations. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this unique buying opportunity while you can as this is a one-shot deal direct from the winery and there is no more to be had. This is most certainly the case with Villa Fidelia as it's among the finest bottlings we’ve tasted in our dozen or so years of selling the wine. The 2015 vintage is widely regarded as one of the better all-time in and around Tuscany and Umbria. By 2001, Cotarella was named Gambero Rosso "Winemaker of the Year" and the wines continue to be as strong as ever. Both the Italian and American press immediately embraced the wines, with Robert Parker awarding Sportoletti's flagship Villa Fidelia Rosso 94 points in Cotarella's very first vintage, then 96 points in the second, and so on. The Sportoletti family has produced wine in Umbria for three generations, but it wasn't until they joined forces with then up-and-coming enologist Ricardo Cotarella in 1998 that the world began to take notice. All this has led to an incredible buying opportunity on a wine once referred to by the Advocate as a great buy at OVER $50! (10/17/19)"Īs previously reported, Sportoletti abruptly disappeared from the market a few years back after simultaneously losing their US distributor and not getting reviewed by the Wine Advocate due to shrinking Italian coverage. This is a sun-drenched and powerful wine (with a noticeable 15% alcoholic content) that delivers rich plummy fruit and thick textural layers. 92 points Monica Larner ( Wine Advocate): "The 2015 Villa Fidelia Rosso is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged in barrique for 12 months.