Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2016, Tuscany, Italy*
Dark, impenetrable ruby. Upfront oak nose leaving little to the imagination. Marzipan cherry-fruit palate with fresh acidity, but the oak makes the finish a little dry. Less would have been more, but it certainly has length.
Grape variety: Merlot, Prug
Santoro Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2017, Abruzzo, Italy
Made from 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo grapes, grown in hillside vineyards near the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo. The grapes are harvested in October, destemmed, crushed, and fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve juiciness and softness.
Tasting N