Deep ruby color; plum, blackberry, sour cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, mulberry on the nose and palate.
Dry; medium tannins and acidity. Sour cherry and blackcurrant gives this some bite on pop-and-pour. Decanting integrates and tones much of this down, but doesn’t eliminate the edginess completely. Decanting recommended. Medium-plus body. Vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Aged in bottle, no oak regimen. The Natum organic wine was first produced in 1990. It fully embraces Agriverde’s ecological philosophy. It is vegan finished, no albumin or casein used in fining. 13% ABV
Agriverde’s story is the story of one of the oldest families in Abruzzo: the Di Carlo family. The story starts in the early 1800s and the passion and techniques have been passed from father-to-son to this day. In the second half of 1980s, Giannicola Di Carlo, a bio-agronomist, assumed control of the winery. He converted all production to organic. Agriverde became on the of the first certified-organic wineries in Italy by ICEA (Institute for Environmental Ethics Certification). They also were leaders in creating the first European Union organic farming regulations; Agriverde earned certification in 1991.
Montepulciano is classic grape of central Italy, most prominently in Abruzzo, where this wine is made. This wine is 100% montepulciano, the major grape in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy, east of Rome; the Apennine Mountains are the western border, the Adriatic Sea the eastern border. Grapes grown in the countryside of Ortona, province of Chieti. Abruzzo trellis and spurred cordon training system.
There is a Tuscan town (75 miles southeast of Florence) named Montepulciano where very highly valued Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made—but that red wine does not use Montepulciano grapes, it uses sangiovese. That famous red wine gets its name because it only is made in the town of that name. Surely you are not surprised wine can be so confusing, especially in the Old World.
Agriverde Natum Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2021 is tight and disjointed on opening, but nicely comes around with decanting. The initial sour cherry and plum deliver a coy sweetness after softening with air exposure. Black fruits, some bite and sourness even after decanting, but the juxtaposition of assertive dark fruit and hints of red and softness make for an intriguing experience, especially since this is a value, QPR effort. Delivers more than you expect, even if it is not a profound wine with depth and complexity. Pair with Italian fare, including pastas with meat with tomato sauces; beef—beef stew, grilled, braised, roasted; lamb; veal; pork, sausage; wild game—venison, boar; cured meats, charcuterie board; grilled vegetables—portobello mushrooms; pizza; hamburger. Cheese—pecorino romano, grana padano, asiago, provolone. $9-14
