Tasting Notes: Dark ruby red in color with orange nuances after many years of aging. On the nose it has notes of red fruits, plum and wild berries jam, chocolate, and pepper. On the palate it is tannic and well balanced by the heavy body. Persistent flavors of plum, wild berries, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Food Pairings: Pair this wine with Hors d’oeuvre of delicatessen and ripening cheese, pasta dishes with red sauce and mushrooms, or roasted red meat and game.

Winemaking & Aging: Fermentation at controlled temperature in steel, with long maceration of the skins. Aged many months in medium-toasted barrique, followed by many months in bottle.

James Suckling: “Lots of crushed black fruit on the nose and full palate, where well-integrated tannins push the fruit along for some time. No real complexity, but lightly oak, riserva-style structure that hangs together. Drink or hold.”

International Wine Report: “This Montepulciano d’Abruzzo opens with pretty aromas of dark cherries and plums along with dried herbs, spices, damp soil nuances. On the palate this possesses a medium body, which is backed by velvety tannins that carry on through the finish. Overall this is accessible now and should continue to drink well over the course of the next few years.”