I Lauri Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Le Pinciaie 2018
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Dark ruby-red with violet undertones. Complex wild berry notes framed by elegant oak spices. Blackcurrant, spicy cherry integrated with hazelnut and coffee.
Pair with lamb arrosticini, red meats, game, roast lamb, or aged sheep cheese.
With a shared love for the ancient beauty of Abruzzo Antonella and Rodrigo Redmont planted roots in their homeland (literally) with olive trees, grapevines and a house back in 2004. Several years later they had their first vintage with their new winery I Lauri. The name “I Lauri” stems from the laurel trees that once covered the hills in Loreto Aprutino. Located just 12 miles from the Adriatic sea, this medieval town displays a picturesque balance between classical architecture and natural terrain. It is lined with centuries-old olive groves and vineyards with low lying hills overlooking the sea. To protect this land and to be a model for other wine growing regions around Italy their emphasis is sustainability. They do not use chemical insecticides in the vineyards, rather vegetation between rows to promote healthy soil and a diverse ecosystem. To conserve water and support deeper roots and distinct vines, irrigation is never used. Additionally, they only use renewable energy sources from local wind farms to power operations at the winery
Montepulciano is the second most planted red variety in Italy after Sangiovese, though it is achieves its highest potential in the region of Abruzzo. Consistently enticing and enjoyable, Montepulciano enjoys great popularity throughout central and southern Italy as well. A tiny bit grows with success in California, Argentina and Australia. Somm Secret—Montepulciano is also the name of a village in Tuscany where, confusingly, they don’t grow the Montepulciano grape at all! Sangiovese shines in yet another Tuscan village, here making the reputable wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
A warm, Mediterranean vine-growing paradise, in Abruzzo, the distance from mountains to seaside is relatively short. The Apenniness, which run through the center of Italy, rise up on its western side while the Adriatic Sea defines its eastern border.
Wine composition tends to two varieties: Abruzzo’s red grape, Montepulciano and its white, Trebbiano. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo can come in a quaffable, rustic and fruity style that generally drinks best young. It is also capable of making a more serious style, where oak aging tames its purely wild fruit.
Trebbiano in Abruzzo also comes in a couple of varieties. Trebbiano Toscana makes a simple and fruity white. However when meticulously tended, the specific Trebbiano d’Abruzzo-based white wines can be complex and long-lived.
In the region’s efforts to focus on better sites and lower yields, vine acreage has decreased in recent years while quality has increased.