Testarossa Pasetti, a wonderful expression of Abruzzo’s wine

Often I'm asked which wine I would buy for a certain occasion.

And my answer is more or less always the same: it depends on the amount I want (or I can) spend.

In fact, each wine has its "market price", and if we wanted to approach appellations of great blazon - Barolo, Brunello or Taurasi - the minimum amount for buying quality labels would end up exceeding 30 euros, an amount that would rise (and not a little) when we had the idea of disturbing the great French appellations (in Burgundy or Bordeaux sauce, I leave the choice to you).

Fortunately for our bank account, in Italy (but not only), there are territories that - for a series of reasons that I will not talk about, also because we would end up off topic - are able to offer products of absolute excellence at low prices, justifying the said that "we Italians drink well even without taking out a mortgage".

Among these, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo deserves a special mention, a denomination of tradition and great quality, which very often is exchanged with the Nobile di Montepulciano, another important DOCG Tuscany with which (apart from name) hasn’t any common point.

Unlike what happens for many wine regions, capable of create interest without having received particular gifts from mother nature, the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo area can boast almost unique pedoclimatic conditions.

In fact, it’s nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine peaks, and the vineyards are featured by significant slopes, strong temperature ranges and good ventilation, factors that determine an exceptional microclimate for viticulture.

But despite a centuries-old tradition and top wine potential, for too long Montepulciano d'Abruzzo has been relegated to a simple and rustic wine, with the classic form of pergola farming - very productive - and cooperative wineries dominating the scene.

The turning point came thanks to some far-sighted producers – especially Emidio Pepe and Edoardo Valentini – who over the years have become true icons of the international level and have acted as a driving force for an entire territory, turning on the headlights on an often underrated appellation (also for their own mistakes) and giving way to a new generation of producers attentive to obtaining a high quality product but also able to best express the characters of this terroir.

 “Real” wines like few others, almost never showing elegance, essential for some aspects but also powerful and vigorous, “liquid representers” of this region and its inhabitants.

Among the best expressions of this terroir there is certainly Montepulciano d’Abruzzo “Testarossa”, the flag label of Pasetti winery.

A wine capable in the past of impressing me on more than one occasion, and that yesterday evening too was able to remind me - if I ever forgot - the greatness of the vine and its surprising terroir.

2015 vintage will probably not be the best version ever produced, a little too quite and didactic when in a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo I love to look for edges and unpredictability, but at the same time varietal, structured and harmonious.

Very high quality / price ratio, also because finding a wine of this stature for less than 20 euros is really difficult.

Testarossa Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2015

Personal rating: 90/100

Grapes: 100% Montepulciano

Aging: 18 months in steel + 18/22 months in French oak barriques

Price range: 18-22 €

 

TASTING

👀 Ruby/purple, very intense and dark, as well as dense. So, a typical Montepulciano!

👃Clean, varietal and coherent with barrique aging. Medium intense and fine, beautiful complexity. Ripe red fruit, pepper, herbaceous spiciness, licorice, light animal note in the background.

👄 Full-bodied without being heavy, maybe a little bit too linear but at the same time well balanced between freshness, flavor and softness. Alcohol properly managed, lively but integrated tannin. Excellent persistence, final in which the notes perceived on the nose return, as well as a light bitter background.