MASCIARELLI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
MARINA CVETIC VINEYARD 2008
$19.99
No, I'm not getting senile; yes, I have already reviewed this wine before in this column. Harney's has been very fortunate to recently obtain several cases of this wine. If anything, it is even more satisfying now. There are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes. 10,000! Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of them. Abruzzo, by the way, is a region in central Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea. Let me repeat what I have said previously: this is a big wine with a 14.5% alcohol level; it has concentrated flavors of ripe black cherry, plum, and prune, with hints of mocha, licorice, black pepper, and spice; its tannins are soft, the mouth-feel is silky, with a long, smooth finish. And, we are able to offer this altogether extraordinary wine at a price lower than before.