While Montepulciano is gaining a toehold in Southern California as a fine performer, it is always a treat to taste origin examples. I can imagine central Italy natives joy in having a wine like this as an option locally, as it offers a deeper, fuller bodied wine than Sangiovese typically provides. Horses for courses as they say. This bottling shows a fine balance of dark fruit and dry earth notes complemented by rich oak spice. It will set off grilled meats or a pasta carbonara beautifully. Now I’m salivating.
Masciarelli, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOC (Italy) 2019
By Rich Cook