Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
What is it?
Recommended to us by one of our loyal subscribers, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a DOC (Denominazione di origine controllata) wine that unsurprisingly is made with Montepulciano grapes and hails from the Abruzzo region in east-central Italy [3]. For those of you with a keen eye, this is actually our second foray into the Montepulciano grape variety with our first being a rosé style -- Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo -- that we had in Week 11. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo however, is typically a dry red wine that is aromatic, tannic, and with low acidity [4]. Primary flavors include red plum, blackberry, dried thyme, baking spices, and mesquite [2].
We got this wine at a Costco in La Vista, Nebraska, on the way back from picking Ryan up at the airport (Yay, Ryan's back!). It's supposed to pair well with sausages [1], but we paired it with tortilla chips, salsa, and spinach and artichoke dip (also from Costco). We thought that the wine paired well with both the salsa and the spinach and artichoke dip -- a classic Costco combo.
Molly's Rating and Tasting Notes
7.2. On the nose, I get some spices and smoke. The taste is sort of like a charred plum (in a good way). It's very juicy, but there's a burnt or smoky taste as well. The finish is a little peppery with some fruity notes. Better than expected for me given that it's a dry red.
Ryan's Rating and Tasting Notes
8.4. *As a disclaimer, I did let my wine sit in its glass for about 20 minutes before I did this review.* On the nose, I'm getting some meatiness, some smoke, undertones of dark fruits, specificially plum and blackberry, and a little bit of fennel. It smells kind of like a sausage that has been soaked in wine. On the tongue, I get bold flavors of plum and sour strawberries. There is also an oaky, charred note as well that is very present in the flavor profile. The mouthfeel is very full and moist in the beginning, but towards the end there's a slight acidity and bitterness that leaves the mouth a tad dry. Although the fullness of the wine dissipates, the flavor does not, and you're left with a lingering aftertaste. Overall, a very enjoyable wine that I would have again.
References
[1] Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack. Wine Folly: The Master Guide. Avery - A Penguin Imprint, New York, NY, 2018.
[2] "Montepulciano." Wine Folly. https://winefolly.com/grapes/montepulciano/. Accessed: June 2023.
[3] J. Robinson (2006). "Montepulciano."
[4] M. Ewing-Mulligan & E. McCarthy (2001). "Italian Wine for Dummies." Hungry Minds.
Wines we haven't finished
- Chenin Blanc (Lubanzi) - Week 9
- Grechetto - Week 15