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Italy’s juiciest grape? It must be smooth, plummy Montepulciano. You’ll have met it in our bestselling Farnese. We headed back to the grape’s heartland, Abruzzo, on Italy’s coast, to find a new star and discovered this irresistible, fruit-laden red.
Italy’s juiciest grape? It must be smooth, plummy Montepulciano. You’ll have met it in our bestselling Farnese. We headed back to the grape’s heartland, Abruzzo, on Italy’s coast, to find a new star and discovered this irresistible, fruit-laden red.
Tasting notes
Rich mouthful of juicy, velvety spice plums, with soft, silky tannins
Aroma
Spiced damson, juicy plum, black cherry and raspberry
Allergy information
Contains sulphites
More information
While many of Italy’s famed red grapes (such as Sangiovese or Nebbiolo) are noted for acidity, which helps ageing, Montepulciano gives a soft, juicy and approachable wine, even when young. The Beaujolais of Italy, perhaps, and exactly the style enjoyed by the locals. Farinelli is made from hand-picked, richly concentrated grapes grown on 30 to 40-year-old vines high in the Abruzzo hills. What’s more, it’s declassified (without official DOC status), which means that although it cannnot be labelled as fancy DOC, it does come at a particularly pleasing low price. But it’s the flavour in the glass that matters, and we’re impressed by that too. This is a fine match with pesto pasta, a roasted vegetable lasagne or chicken – from roast to pie.