JASCI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2020, Itália (BIOLÓGICO)

Opened this up for a friend’s dinner and the balanced tannins made it incredibly food-friendly without being too heavy. The ruby red color was beautiful in the glass, and that finish of red fruits was surprisingly persistent. Definitely going back for another bottle.

The cinnamon and vanilla really come through on the nose, but it’s the silky tannins that make it so easy to sip. A glass with carnitas was a perfect match, and that cement and steel aging gives it a clean, balanced finish that’s hard to beat.

Poured a glass last night and the cinnamon and vanilla notes really come through—much more complex than I expected from a bottle at this price point. It paired perfectly with the carnitas, the tannins softening just enough.