Gran Sasso Montepulciano 2009

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a type of wine grape as well as a type of red wine made from the Montepuliciano grapes in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy. It is typically a fruity, dry wine with soft tannins, and as such is often consumed young. It is a grape that can produce wines in a wide range of styles and quality. Yields are reduced by dropping fruit, in order to produce riper, more concentrated and balanced fruit. The grapes are picked with no hint of over-ripeness and are vinified with the goal of maintaining freshness and a juicy, user-friendly style.

Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo has plenty of juicy dark fruit, really fresh and vibrant with ripe yet persistent Italianate tannins with requisite cleansing acidity. Deep purple in colour, lovely succulent wine with plush reds fruits and silky smooth tannins. It is clean, fresh and plummy on the nose, rich, supple and accessible on the palate.

 WHAT A MOUTHFUL………………Jane Faulkner The Age Epicure

At an Italian lunch recently, a feast actually, but that sounds like tautology, I poured a glass of Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo for a friend who took a sip, then another and well, he couldn't stop drinking it. Apart from complementing the food, the wine was utterly delicious. Next the thorny subject: price? What do you think the wine cost? $30? $50? Nope just $10. What value.

You'd be hard pressed to find a better-value red that is also delicious and an absolute cracker. The Gran Sasso has plenty of juicy dark fruit, really fresh and vibrant with ripe yet persistent Italianate tannins with requisite cleansing acidity. Quite possibly the bargain wine of the year!