2019 Spinelli Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (Alcohol 13%, Residual Sugar 6 g/l) LCBO $8.75 (750ml bottle)
One doesn’t expect too much from an $8.75 wine, so when one of those overdelivers in the manner that this bottling from Spinelli does, it is most certainly worth writing about. Knowing a little about wine production and the costs associated, quite how they manage to pack so much wholly enjoyable fruit into a wine at this price absolutely baffles me. For an inexpensive wine they have done a nice job on the packaging too, as the label is pretty slick and mercifully free of the bad design one so often sees in this category.
Whilst by no means a pour of any great complexity, there is more than enough in the glass to keep your palate most amused, and it makes for the perfect wine to accompany simple pizza, pasta, sausages, and burgers.
Pouring a defined deep purple, the aromatics are all about bright and juicy red and black berry fruits with just a hint of warm spice and almonds. The plate is both juicy and soft, with a considerably lengthy black fruit finish, think dark plums. Chill for half an hour before consumption for best results.
A rather remarkable wine for the money, and certainly one of the best reds in the under $10 category.
(Three and half apples out of a possible five)
Spinelli are represented in Ontario by Churchill Cellars.
Churchill Cellars are a Good Food Fighter.
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