Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo San Martino Riserva 2020 750ml

Gianni Masciarelli one day suprised his wife by presenting her with this wine, from the grape he made famous from the region, named after her. Croatian in origin, her first reaction was that no one would be able to pronounce the wine. Because of the outstanding sites used to produce the wine and the serious winemaking care it undergoes, Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo soon became the most widespread example of serious Montepluciano in the world.

Deep and dark with lifted seductive aromas of red fruits and spice, powerful ripe red and black fruits wrapped in a structured but lush, elegant frame. Tremendous length and complexity.

Wine Spectator 90 points A sleek, medium-bodied red, with appealing violet and spice aromatics winding through flavors of crushed blackberry, dried fig and licorice snap. Trim tannins sculpt the finish, where a note of loamy earth emerges and lingers. Drink now through 2026. — Alison NapjusDecanter 91 points A blend of five crus in the province of Chieti, vinified and matured separately before blending and further bottle ageing. Spiced plum and blackcurrant aromas with some violet overtones give way to a soft, voluptuous palate of dark fruits and fine-grained tannins. Dried fruits and balsamic freshness feature on the long finish, the latter giving this big embrace of a wine sufficient poise.  Drinking 2022 - 2030  — James ButtonVinous 90 points The 2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva is spicy with masses of intense, dark cherry fruits, minty herbs and hints of shaved cedar. It’s silky-smooth and juicy in style with an opulent wave of dark red berries and saline-minerality that adds balance. The 2018 lingers incredibly long yet remarkably fresh. This is an easier-to-understand yet fully enjoyable expression of Montepulciano.  Drinking 2023 - 2026   —  Eric Guido