Montepulciano

Montipagano is a pleasant, single-varietal Montepulciano from organic cultivation. Strong ruby violet, great aroma of blackberry and lilac with earthy tones. Beautiful fruit and structure on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

The rugged, red-tinged rocky landscape of Ripe in the immediate vicinity of the vineyards gave its name to the Riparosso. Its intense bouquet of delicately fresh character is beguiling, the velvety and mild taste absolutely seductive. SUPERIORE.DE

The Gianni Masciarelli line is intended to embody the typicality of the region, and so this Rosato is powerful and full-bodied, as you would expect from the grape variety and terroir. Intense cherry pink. Delicately fruity-spicy aroma, robust on the palate with plenty of structure. Finishes with a fine minerality and berry fruit. SUPERIORE.DE

This Montepulciano d'Abruzzo fascinates with its flattering bouquet of wild berries and balsamic notes. On the palate, notes of dark berries, dense and soft, juicy tannins and a fine hint of cocoa. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Jorio takes its time opening up in the glass. At first the wine is smoky with peppery florals and hints of camphor. Patience is rewarded, as this deepens with shades of violet, giving way to crushed blackberry and hints of spiced citrus. It's silky yet lifted in feel, with juicy acids and soothingly ripe red and black fruits. This closes incredibly fresh with a flourish of pretty inner florals and hints of licorice. The 2018 Jorio really captures the energy of the vintage and is a pleasure to taste." Vinous

"Aromas of ripe plum, sour cherry, licorice, oregano and oyster shell. It's medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Juicy, flavorful and fresh." James Suckling

The Tralcetto is concentrated and beautifully complex. Already in the powerful bouquet of sweet and sour cherries, it reveals its original grape. True to the classic style, it reveals a very good taste with powerful fruit. A wonderful Montepulciano with a nuanced spectrum of aromas and a remarkable finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Clear pink colour with strong reflections. Fresh cherry bouquet, characteristic and with floral notes. Dry and fruity on the palate, with aromas of sour cherries, raspberries and wild strawberries, plus the typical very light almond tone on the finish. A very harmonious rosé with a fresh and powerful structure that lingers beautifully and is a pleasure to drink. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2021 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is sweetly scented with white strawberries, dusty rose and a hint of confectioners’ sugar. It envelopes the palate in silken textures, as ripe red fruits give way to inner florals and hints of spice. Nuances of licorice and cherry linger as this finishes fresh." Vinous

A wonderful Montepulciano Rosato from Abruzzo with a rosé colour typical for the white vinification of red grapes. Harmonious, fine and elegant on the palate. A light, fresh and very balanced wine. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep red colour, fascinating complex aroma spectrum on the nose. Dominated by the ripe berry scent, with hints of plums and tobacco. Powerful and intense on the palate, rich in extract, with juicy soft tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"Clean, mixed berries on the nose and palate. A well-poised, medium-bodied red with a good, fluid feel and some medium oak and fruit tannin adding structure. Slightly dry finish for now. Give it a year to meld all together and expand mid palate. Try from 2023." James Suckling

Deep ruby red colour with violet hues. Clean, intense and persistent on the nose, with notes of red fruits, blackberries and sour cherries. Full and fruity on the palate, with notes of tobacco and liquorice on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Enticing nose of brambleberries, dried flowers and a light, bitter-orange note, following through to a lightly firm, medium-bodied palate with good fruit and balance." James Suckling

Classic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, emphatically fresh and not too heavy. Small red berries and spices on the nose, harmonious and round on the palate. Great value. SUPERIORE.DE

"Super-ripe character to the crushed-berry aromas, padded out with some loamy notes. Medium-bodied with the same fruit and clay-like notes, which coat the tannins and provide a soft yet lightly firm feel on the palate. Good length and balance. Noble expression of this appellation. Lovely to drink now, but this will benefit from a little more time in bottle." James Suckling

Ripe red fruits in the bouquet, the taste soft and supple, juicy and nicely structured. Very enjoyable wine for every day. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2018 Rosso Piancarda is intensely spiced and perfumed, as medicinal cherries and raspberries are complemented by dusty rose and sweet cedar. On the palate the Piancarda takes a turn toward the savory spectrum. Salty and full of zesty minerality, the 2018 shows sapid red fruits, hints of plum and brisk acids that keeps the expression fresh. Grippy tannins linger through the finale, as hints of sour citrus and tart berries slowly taper off." Vinous

"Taut tannins are enmeshed with ripe black and red currant fruit flavors in this fresh red, which is medium-bodied, with herb and iron accents emerging on the chalky finish." Wine Spectator

Pure-varietal Rosato made from Montepulciano grapes: strong bright cherry-pink, fresh fruity, floral scent, notes of red berries and a hint of citrus and blood orange. Supple, juicy and full-bodied on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Opening to a dark ruby color with raspberry pink highlights, the Masciarelli 2020 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore Villa Gemma is fresh and lively with plenty of wild berry, cherry and rose-like aromas. The wine flaunts a youthful primary intensity, with fresh acidity, which makes it a simple joy to drink, especially if a plate of fried olives or mozzarella fritters is on the table. There's plenty of fresh acidity to bring out the flavors in those fun finger foods." Robert Parker

"The wickedly fresh 2020 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Villa Gemma leads with dusty red florals, dried strawberries and sweet white smoke. It fills the palate with fleshy textures contrasted by zesty acids and spice. Tart cherry and hints of blueberry collect toward the close, along with hints of round tannin. This is persistent and lightly structured, yet it still buzzes with energy, making the 2020 an excellent option for drinking now or through short-term cellaring. Nicely done." Vinous

"Light red-cherry color with aromas of strawberries and raspberries, as well as a touch of red peach. Medium-bodied with a good core of red-fruit flavor and clean acidity pushing it along. Super-clean, refreshing and delicious." James Suckling

Every year one of the top rosés of Abruzzo: cherry-red colour with violet reflections. Intense bouquet of red berries, elegant fragrance, aromatic and very harmonious overall impression. Long-lasting on the palate and far more than just any terrace wine. SUPERIORE.DE

Rosso del Duca is a very classic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Powerful aroma of blueberries, cherries and cocoa, straightforward and tireless on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep dark red, complex, almost beguiling aroma reminiscent of full, ripe raspberries and strawberries; finest spice, creamy, chocolaty, very haunting. Soft, incredibly dense and opulent on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

Rich, full and typical of the variety, the Spelt Rosato has an intense aroma and the fruity-dry taste, a slender acid wire and with a clear, energetic, full-bodied final. SUPERIORE.DE

Every year, Cùmaro is one of the very great Montepulciano from the Conero cliffs, which dip into the Adriatic Sea on a small headland, where sun and sea breeze caress the vines. Radiant in rich, dark garnet red. The expressive bouquet is dark berry with cassis, blueberry and ripe wild raspberry. Opens on the palate with grippy tannins, juicy, powerful, multi-layered and with a savoury-spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The Conero Riserva Grosso Agontano rises from the glass dark, floral and earthy, with notes of undergrowth and tobacco that fade into blackberries and gravel. Its velvety texture leads to a sophisticated presentation of red and black fruits underpinned by cool herbal notes, while the fine tannins slowly saturate towards the end. The finish is long, youthfully structured and with a pleasant inner sweetness, while nuances of tangerine and sour cherry linger under a hint of violet blossom. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dusty violets, roses, incense wild herbs and wet stone lift up to form a perfumed display as the 2018 Conero Riserva Grosso Agontano blossoms in the glass. The Agontano is silky and refined, contrasting ripe red berries and sweet spice with saline-mineral tones and brisk acidity. This leaves the palate with a coating of fine tannins, yet it remains energetic, savory and almost salty in character, with a hint of black licorice that lingers long. The 2018 Agontano will only require minimal cellaring to show well, and, although quite balanced and pretty, it should be enjoyed sooner rather than later." Vinous

Deep dark Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva with a beguiling aroma of dark red cherries and berry fruits, plus earthy notes, tar, spices and liquorice. "A mouthful of wine" in an incredibly appealing style. Spelt has remarkable concentration and excellent length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense black fruit on the nose and full-bodied palate with grainy, velvety tannins that carry the focused fruit well through the long, balanced finish. Love the well-defined structure here. Nice to drink now, but will be even better after another year." James Suckling

Medoro's famous top plant Montepulciano Adrano, which is elegant and typical of the variety, spreads a fine fruity aroma. The taste is led by a rich fruit, which is perfectly embedded in a full, deliciously spicy structure. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Villa Medoro 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane Adrano shows a classic aromatic profile with dark fruit tones followed by leather and mild tobacco. This wine ages in oak for 12 months, and the impact of that wood emerges mostly in terms of the rich and slightly dense texture of the mouthfeel. Those contrasts between dark fruit and oak spice are nicely played, and they are perfectly suited to a rib-eye steak." Robert Parker

Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep and explosive bouquet reminiscent of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Illuminati's single-vineyard classic Zanna, with its elegant, very complex taste and delicate oak spice, leaves nothing to be desired every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich red and black berries with hints of sea shells, dried herbs and a touch of balsamic. Medium-to full-bodied with a relaxed palate, where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This needs another year to meld together better. Try from 2023." James Suckling

Powerful, concentrated Montepulciano with elegant wood notes and multi-layered fruit aromas, true to the terroir and modern. Impressive richness that offers further palate pleasures with every sip. Equally impressive is the long and complex finish. One of the greatest Montepulciano of the region every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, dark shining garnet. In the nose of rich, noble cherries, intense fragrance, rich bouquet with dried rose petal, ripe raspberry, forest fruits, undergrowth. Full and clear on the palate with great structure, taut with ripe red fruit, punchy, already harmonious, with persistence." Falstaff

"Aromas of brandy-soaked dark cherry, anise, allspice and chopped mint show depth, concentration and purity in this Montepulciano that sees time in French oak. It's rich in feel on the palate, but counterbalanced by a bright core of acidity that pushes along the dense berry and spice flavors. There's a polish to it all that makes it accessible in the near term, but it would also hold well through 2028." Wine Enthusiast

"Complex aromas of crushed black fruit, dried lemon peel, kalonji seeds and more if you linger. Full-bodied palate, where the intense fruit coats the medium-grain tannins on the center-palate and continues to push through the wall as the tannins firm up towards the end. The finish is already long and fruity and will only lengthen as the wine matures in bottle. Super quality here. Try from 2024." James Suckling

This Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of the best we have ever tasted. Concentrated ruby red in colour, the nose and taste are characterised by a dreamlike balance between fruit components and oak spice. A compact, elegant and very balanced red with a rich finish. Perfect! SUPERIORE.DE

Don Luigi Riserva, a solid, powerful red from Montepulciano and Aglianico has an intense, complex bouquet of sour cherries preserved in alcohol and a rich, delicately woody flavour with a long, warm finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Roasted hazelnuts, chocolate cherries, dark berries, bay leaves and walnuts on the nose. Full-bodied with a rich, ripe core of dark fruit, framed by firm and muscular tannins. Salty undertones. Big and delicious." James Suckling