The aroma is filled with jammy dark fruits, especially plum, accompanied by some earthy notes. Once in the mouth, the wine has a considerably lighter body and is remarkably less filling than you would expect. The finish is drying and a bit bitter, in clear contrast with the first impression given by the sweet, fruity sensations perceived on the nose. The aftertaste is long, but not particularly appealing.
Although produced in the Old Abruzzi Region of Italy, this is a wine made according to the New World style: a bold and popular wine characterised by ripe fruit and firm tannins. It is probably not a coincidence that the producer is a leading estate, who sells 400’000 bottle of just this one etiquette.
The estate was founded in 1981 by Gianni Masciarelli, who is widely regarded as being at the vanguard of modernisation in Abruzzo. Marina Cvetić, named after his wife and first produced in 1997, is a clear example of this evolution. According to the producer, the wine ages 12 to 18 months in 100% new barriques.
For this Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC Riserva I paid 20 EUR in Italy. I find it a reasonably priced wine that can be easily enjoyed, but better accompanied by some food.
Country: Italy
Region: Abruzzo
Grapes: Montepulciano
Type: Red
Vintage: 2013
Producer: Gianni Masciarelli
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5