Il Faggio, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Alcohol percentage: 13%

Area:
The Abruzzo is an important but largely unknown province on the wild east coast – little know for quality wine production until recently.

Grape variety:
100% Montepulciano, made without oak and bottled young to maximise freshness of fruit.

Producer:
From one of the region’s best co-operatives in the northern part of the Abruzzi, made in conjunction with the winemaking consultant Matt Thomson (who also makes our house white Garganega). Matt’s colleague, Alana McGettigan, oversees things on the ground.
The name, Il Faggio, derives from the amazing beech trees which proliferate in this area, especially in the Abruzzo national park.

The Bottle Shop rating:
Italian wines can often be ‘difficult’ at a lower level. There is invariably too much tannin and acidity to class them as easy-drinking. This has tamed those factors, but without losing personality – there is plenty of savoury spice.