Jasci Montepulciano 2023

Jasci farms 33 hectares across three vineyard sites in Abruzzo and was among the first estates in Italy to convert the whole property to organic viticulture. The wine is made from Montepulciano, the region's deep-coloured workhorse grape, planted on hillside sites that carry the diurnal swing between warm days and cool nights common to central Italy, retaining acidity in an otherwise ripe fruit. Fermentation is natural, and the wine is raised entirely in stainless steel rather than wood, a choice that keeps the fruit primary and the tannins fresh without adding oak spice or oxidative development. The colour is dense purple. The nose leads with ripe plum and dark cherry, moving to black pepper, dried herbs and a savoury, earthy undertone. On the palate it is full and fleshy, with the grainy tannin and cherry acidity typical of the variety, closing on liquorice and leather. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, ideally decanted for half an hour. It suits grilled and braised red meats, hard sheep's cheeses and rich tomato-based pasta.