A richly flavoured Montepulciano from Contesa's estate in the Pescara hills of Southern Italy's Abbruzzo region. This is an absolute cracker as we like to say, unusually complex style combining dark bramble fruit with spicy oak, the perfect Autumn red!
Rocco Pasetti's superbly sited, 50 hectare, estate lies in the heart of the Collecorvino district in the hills northwest of Pescara, recognised as one of the best vineyard zones in Abruzzo.
Surrounding the winery, the south-facing slopes of clay-chalk soils, at around 250m altitude, are ideal for the cultivation of Montepulciano, with Pecorino grown on the lower slopes. The cellar was completed in 2004 - carved into the hillside. Rocco's son, Franco Pasetti, is also a winemaker and now works alongside him at the estate.The Contesa wines are impeccably-made expressions of Abruzzo's local grapes - modern and easy to drink, yet wines of real substance.
Produced from a selection of grapes from the best plots of Montepulciano grown on the Contesa estate in Collecorvino, 250m above sea level. The soil is clay / chalk, and harvesting takes place towards the end of October. Maceration on the skins with pumping over for 8-12 days at high temperature (28-30ºC). The wine is then matured in 30hl Slavonian oak barrels for 12 months, with a further 4 months in bottle.
Expect a warm and open nose with aromas of ripe black fruit, hints of dark chocolate and spicy oak. The palate is rich and generous with bramble and black cherry fruit fleshing out the supple yet structured tannins. Bright acidity with notes of mocha and liquorice on the finish.
The Details:
Grape: Montepluciano
Country: Italy
Region: Abruzzo
Abv: 14%
Style: Rich & Juicy
South Africa famously produces wines that are great value for money and Boutinot’s own Cape range seems crazily inexpensive, even by those standards. This one, from Swartland, is the definitive crowd pleaser, with its bright red fruit and spicy seasoning. There’s depth and complexity for those that take time to look for it but really this is all about pleasure.’ The Wine Merchant magazine, May 2023.
The Producer:
Rocco Pasetti's superbly sited, 50 hectare, estate lies in the heart of the Collecorvino district in the hills northwest of Pescara, recognised as one of the best vineyard zones in Abruzzo.
Surrounding the winery, the south-facing slopes of clay-chalk soils, at around 250m altitude, are ideal for the cultivation of Montepulciano, with Pecorino grown on the lower slopes. The cellar was completed in 2004 - carved into the hillside. Rocco's son, Franco Pasetti, is also a winemaker and now works alongside him at the estate.
The Contesa wines are impeccably-made expressions of Abruzzo's local grapes - modern and easy to drink, yet wines of real substance.
