Faraone, Abruzzo

Deep purple, with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, bramble and cinnamon spice. An abundance of black berry fruit on the palate, refreshing acidity, prominent yet finely interwoven tannins, and a lingering finish. An excellent example of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, with layers of complexity from 24months in large oak barrels. Drink 2017-2020.

Pecorino is a white grape, traditionally from the hills of Abruzzo, where it is adept at growing in a slightly cooler climate and on clay soil. It is the last grape to flower in the Spring and the first to be harvested in September. Vinified in a traditional white wine-way, the nose shows off notes of white flowers while the ageing sur lie gives it a full body. Sometimes it is described as a red wine dressed as white. 

Faraone’s story dates back to 1916, first planting Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Passerina in the 1930s and starting to bottle the wines in 1970. Giovanni Faraone makes the wine, aided by his wife Paola and sons, Alfonso and Federico.

Broad, deep, bright mulberry-red; the nose of this late-release, single-vineyard 2008 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is emphatic, with plenty of beady red and black damson fruit, along with sapid sea salt and a whiff of pine. It’s got that tell-tale sooty and menthol ripeness too. The palate is suave, restrained and grown-up, juicy with fleshy damson fruit and raspberry crunch. This is ready to go, complete with molten tannins, lively fruit and freshness.