Discovering Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

8 June 2010: Casual supper at Cine Citta with a couple of friends - your typical pasta, red wine and banter evening. I chose a bottle of 2006 San Clemente Montepulciano d'Abruzzo by Cantina Zaccagnini. We were all very impressed by it. A lesser known region than its more famous neighbour of Campania and Puglia, but Montepulciano in Abruzzo manages to shake off those animal savoury pungent notes and harsh tannins typically associated with Montepulciano (not to be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano which is based on Prugnolo Gentile, a clone of Sangiovese). What we had was a fruit-driven deep ruby-coloured wine, well-balanced and structured, with aromas of ripe black fruit (blackberries, black cherries), liquorice, sweet spices and vanilla, a medium body, with medium level of fine tannins. Perfect accompaniment to our respective pasta dishes. This wine had been aged in new oak for 18 months, followed by 12 months in stainless steel tanks and 6 months of bottle age before release. Website: http://www.cantinazaccagnini.it/)