Montepulciano

Montepulciano is a name of a city in Tuscany, but the grape is mostly planted in Abruzzo and Marche. Its composition is completely different from Sangiovese. It is soft and supple. It ripens later than Sangiovese and is lower in acidity and tannins. It is thought that Montepulciano originated in Tuscany.

The region Abruzzo produces, what most consider, the best Montepulciano in Italy. These grapes are full bodied and robust with the potential for aging.

Sangiovese is sometimes blended with Montepulciano. Rosso Piceno, a DOC zone in eastern Marches, uses 40 percent Montepulciano with 60 percent Sangiovese. Montepulciano is also a small component of Torgiano, a DOC and DOCG zone in Umbria as well as Cori Rosso, DOC in Latium, Cerveteri, DOC in Latium, and Montepulciano d'Abruzzi DOC in Abruzzi.

Montepulciano Wines

Colour	Year	Name	Producer	Region	Style	Price/Bottle in Case	Individual Bottle Price

Red	2010	Madregale Rosso Terre di Chieti IGT SCREWCAP	Cantina Tollo	Abruzzo	Dry	£6.25	£6.49

Red	2009	Riparosso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC	Illuminati	Abruzzo	Dry	£8.99	£9.75

Red	2009	Rosso Piceno DOC	Santa Barbara	Marche	Dry	£9.00	£9.75

Red	2009	Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC	Masciarelli	Abruzzo	Dry	£10.99	£10.99

Red	2006	Brecciarolo Rosso Piceno Superiore DOC	Velenosi	Marche	Dry	£11.99	£11.99

Red	2007	Villa Malacari Rosso Conero DOC	Malacari	Marche	Dry	£13.50	£13.99

Red	2007	Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC	Masciarelli	Abruzzo	Dry	£18.50	£18.50

Red	2007	Zanna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane Riserva DOCG	Illuminati	Abruzzo	Dry	£19.50	£19.50

Red	2007	Il Maschio da Monte Rosso Piceno Sup DOC	Santa Barbara	Marche	Dry	£20.00	£21.75