Gran Sasso Edizione Limitata Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Terra Vera

This wine first arrived as part of a mixed pack from our friends BenandWine Ben is a great bloke, an under appreciated wine mind with a business offering quality plonk you can scoff with gay abandon, along with running beginners classes for those who want an entry into wine but don't know where to start. We have had some rippers from him and this Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of them. If you need a bottle of red to have with a plate of pasta mid week through this very chilly start to a winter, this is it.

The DOC region for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo covers a vast expanse of land in the Abruzzo region between the Appenines foothills down to the Adriatic Coast on the central east coast of Italy. The region is one of Italy's most mountainous with more than 65% of all Abruzzo considered mountainous reaching up to 2,750 metres above sea level. The hillside vineyards, particularly in the northern areas, are planted on clay and benefit from warm and significant sun exposure, with dry breezes from the sea.

Montepulciano is generally bold, with belting tannins and ever present acidity. This has notes of tobacco, pepper, dried oregano and some back fruits - notably black cherry, dark plums and dates. It is rich and has a lovely mouth fill and the tannins sit nicely against the deep dark fruit notes. The peppery finish reminds me of those central Victorian Shiraz finishes - spicy and warming and delicious.

Fabulously complex, the palate is dry and generous, with delicate soft veining and a finish showing great balance.There is a lovely harmony between the hyper masculine tannins and fruit presence, while the lovely delicate notes from the fruit just work. There is a definite call for us to have another case of this through the door as soon as is possible.

We would match this just as easily with a roast shoulder of lamb, a steak on the bbq or a rich ragout with pappardelle pasta. All would work very well - we are even drinking it stand alone without food on a winter night. Love it.

RRP $18

https://www.benandwine.com/

Italy |2019 | Abruzzo | 13.5%