Tiberio - Colle Vota Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2021

The story of Azienda Agricola Tiberio rings more like a new world tale than one from the old world of the ancient lands beneath the Majella and Gran Sasso mountains in Abruzzo. At 1150 feet/350 meters, twenty three miles inland from the seaside city of Pescara near the hillside town of Cugnoli, Riccardo Tiberio found an old plot of Trebbiano Abruzzese vines roughly 50 years old so impressive that he decided to change his and his family’s destiny.

Over a decade ago, Cristiana and Antonio, daughter and son of Riccardo, took over reins of Tiberio. Cristiana, a chemistry specialist who also teaches college sommelier and enology classes, handles winemaking and is the global brand ambassador. Antonio leads grapegrowing and viticulture. The dynamic team have established Tiberio, and Abruzzo, in the forefront of leading-edge wine making and renown in this central part of Italy. Today, Tiberio farms 74 acres/30 hectares of vines.

Colle Vota a single vineyard Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOP wine. The Montepulciano from the Colle Vota vineyard has different characteristics that separate it neatly from all the other Montepulciano we grow at Tiberio. The bunches and berries are much smaller, with crunchier and thicker skins. Colle Vota Montepulciano also takes longer to mature, and this vineyard’s specific microclimate provides a longer hang time, producing a truly unique Montepulciano wine.

100% massal selections of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo transplanted to a higher single vineyard, resulting in a specific biotype uniquely adapted to its microclimate; vines 24 years old; limestone, marly clay over sandstone bedrock soils, uniquely suited to cooler, wetter conditions; 14.5% alcohol; hand harvested late October; fermented using native yeasts in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation and aging in tank; bottled unfined and unfiltered; aged in bottle before release.

“Wildly perfumed and elegant from the first tilt of the glass, the 2021 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colle Vota wafts up with a bouquet of confectionary spices, dusty dried flowers, incense and dried strawberries. This is graceful and lifted in feel, with chalky mineral tones and woodland berries propelled by tantalizing acidity. A savory herbal tinge lingers through the long and tannic finish as the Colle Vota tapers off with tremendous length and a resonance of lavender pastille. It’s a radiant Montepulciano built for the cellar. 2028 – 2038.” - 96 Points, Vinous

“Bright ruby-red. Medicinal cherry, crystallized blackberry, raspberry and a pungent herbal note on the nose. Fresh, juicy and tightly wrapped, with full-bodied and very ripe flavours of red cherry, balsamic oils and herbs. supported by firm acidity. Rather muscular wine, finishing long with pungent floral and musky nuances and a firm tannic spine. Not yet pliant but has the structure and material to reward aging, but I’m not so thrilled by the slightly green nuance most likely deriving from an imperfect ripening of the Montepulciano grapes or of the stems. Maybe I caught it at an awkward time, and it will develop nicely in bottle, but for now best to decant this four hours ahead. 2028 – 2033.” - 92 Points, Wine Review

Producer: Tiberio

Country: Italy

Region: Abruzzo

Varietal: Montepulciano

Appellation: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml