Abruzzo is famous for their marvelous Montelpuciano, a nice balanced red that is reliable and reasonably priced. In a tasting master class hosted by Vinous, an online source for wine info, both for the professionals and amateur oenophiles, not only were the red Montelpucianos showcased, but so were the lesser known whites, the Trebbianos, as some vineyards had to pull back on their reds in 2021, which year was the focus of the tasting, due to the hot and dry conditions which are becoming increasingly common, and to which these established vineyards are adapting for continued success. These were surprisingly good, especially to one who leans to reds. What was most interesting about a couple of these wines was that they were not aged in steel or oak as it typical, but in terra cotta, in “amphoras” like back in the very oldey days. Two wines that did this actually showcased these Greek vase like containers in their names, and very prettily on their labels, Francesco Cirelli’s Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Anfora and La Valentina’s Montelpuciano d’Abruzzo Docheio. The wines in the tasting were all very good and very complex, and which we were all told would also age very well.
Abruzzo – More than Montelpuciano
