Montepulciano like you've never tasted it before, the Umani Ronchi San Lorenzo Rosso Conero.
100% Montepulciano from Conero, Marche, Italy. Half of the wine is aged for 12 months in 5-8,000 litre oak casks and the other half in 3rd or 4th use barriques. It also spends 6 months in the bottle before release.
Conero is one of the 12 DOC zones in the central Italian region of Marche. The wines produced here are typically 100% Montepulciano although they can contain up to 15% Sangiovese. These wines are much different than the Montepulciano we typically see on the shelves in the US which often come from Abruzzo. Read on for more.
Sample submitted for review. The San Lorenzo Rosso Conero has an SRP of $19 and is available for as low as $15. Imported by Vineyard Brands.
A full bodied red wine made from Montepulciano 100% grapes grown on a single vineyard located in the most favorable area of Mount Conero, overlooking the Adriatic Sea in the Marche region. The grapes for San Lorenzo mature slowly on the vine, allowing time to develop ripe and luscious fruits. Ageing 14 months in oak casks and barriques provides distinctive, yet subtle, aromas and flavours. With its fine texture and ample structure, this wine is perfect with roasts, game, aged cheese. Tempting now, it will also age nicely in your cellar.
13.5% Alcohol
The 2016 Umani Ronchi San Lorenzo Rosso Conero needs a bit of time to open up but then shows a really lovely, intoxicating aroma of blackberry, plum, black cherry and some wonderful herbal notes.
The wine tastes smooth and succulent wine with similar flavors to the nose along with some added red berry and well-integrated spice. Nice touches of vanilla and tobacco plus soft tannins lead into the long, dry finish.
This is a much more serious and substantial wine than what you typically find in Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Conero is an area that Italian wine lovers should definitely take some time to explore.
Ready to buy? Check your local retailers.