Montepulciano
While some Italian reds feel light and dry, Montepulciano appeals to the New World palette being a touch richer - dark coloured with juicy and sometimes jammy plum-fruit. As a late ripener it grows right across Italy’s warm mid-section - it is Italy’s second most planted red - with its most famous examples from Abruzzo on the Adriatic coast (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo). Though perhaps Italy’s answer to the similarly appealing internationalised variety Merlot, Montepulciano’s few New World producers are still working on market recognition. Montepulciano may be genetically related to the Tuscan grape Sangiovese but confusingly it has no direct relation to the namesake town of Montepulciano - around which, being Tuscany, only the local Sangiovese and no Montepulciano is grown.

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2018 Cornacchia Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
John Caro
A fresh and richly fruited Montepulciano (red wine) from a quality traditional producer, who now uses organic methods. Cornacchia's vineyard soils are stony and calcerous, which makes them ... read more$22.99 in mixed 6+ or $25.99 per bottle -
2016 Cornacchia Montepulciano Vigna De Coste
John Caro
A fine and food-friendly Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Riserva level from an organic single vineyard. Classic dark plum and chocolate characters remain elegant and focused, with a fine structure and ... read more$35.99 in mixed 6+ or $39.99 per bottle