Cirelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022

When in the right hands (a.k.a Francesco Cirelli’s hands) great Montepulciano, in all of its deep purple glory, drinks almost like cru Beaujolais. Organically farmed and immediately approachable, this is all about the wine’s youthful freshness, with a bright purple color, deeper and darker than previous vintages with plum, blackberry, pomegranate and herbal, oregano notes, followed by a palate that’s chewy and juicy with a solid tannic grip. A small amount of VA provides the wine with energy and layered textures. 

Trained as an economist, Francesco Cirelli left the profession to pursue a career in winemaking, stemming from an infatuation, or moral obligation, to farm with respect to the earth. He purchased his land, an azienda agricola (farm winery), in 2003 with his wife, Michela, with the intent of organic farming olives, garlic, spelt, barley and figs, as well as tiny vineyards of trebbiano and montepulciano. Francesco's secret is lower yields for more concentrated fruit, but also lowering the amount of sulfur to avoid masking the terroir. His vineyards are certified organic. This montepulciano from calcium and clay soils in the Abruzzo is a savory, dark-fruited gem, spontaneously fermented in clay amphorae and aged for six months in stainless steel, with soft tannins and silky texture. With an exuberant nose of red and dark fruit and violets, it is medium-bodied and silky in the mouth with a hint of earth. Certified organic, low-intervention natural wine, vegan.