Bibenda

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1998 Praesidium: 87/100. Dense and intense ruby red, with subtle purple shade. Smelling it, the impact is based on a touch of red berries preserved in alcohol. There are clear scents of black cherry and mulberry. In the end it comes out a rose flower, a touch of sweet spices and slight tobacco. In the mouth the fruit comes back firm and leading, withshades of sour cherry and strawberry. Tanninsare elegant and non-aggressive. It emerges a refreshing, pleasant and balanced touch. The maceration lasts about 8 days at a supervised temperature. For the refining, they are used oak barrels. The wine is not pasteurized, neither clarified: only natural decantation. It is surely long-lasting, it will benefit of some years in the bottle, as it proved the year 1993 that was recently tasted. You must test it with fresh pecorino cheese. At the moment it is the only product of the winery, a part from the liqueur Ratafià which is obtained by themix of Montepulciano wine and “amarelle” cherries, which can be found only in the near areaof Raiano.

From Bibenda, nº 2 Giugno/Agosto 2002