Montepulciano

In the hills of Abruzzo, shaped by the interplay between the Apennines and the Adriatic, the Montepulciano grape produces wines of remarkable density and fleshy structure. Its dark colour, juicy wild berry notes and present, ripe tannins lend it an unmistakable, savoury character. The fact that this traditional variety possesses fine facets alongside wonderfully uncomplicated everyday wines is particularly evident in Cerasuolo, the region’s deep salmon-red rosé, as well as in delicate, clay-amphora-aged expressions.

The winemaker Cirelli masterfully captures this vibrant freshness in his amphora wines. On the other hand, how majestically and gracefully Montepulciano can age is revealed by the monumental, decades-maturing bottlings from Emidio Pepe, which rise to peak performance alongside autumnal stews or mature cheeses.