Casale Vecchio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2018

Farnese’s flagship red has won top medals every year since it was first released in 1998. The grapes are second to none in the region, hand harvested from a patch of ancient Montepulciano vines in the Abruzzo’s highest and arguably greatest vineyard. Access to it came about by invitation after Casale Vecchio’s elderly owner, Señora Turdó, overheard in a café winemaker Filippo Baccalaro talk with such passion about the Montepulciano grape. She knew he would do the grapes from her special vines justice. The wine is aged in part new and part seasoned American and French oak barrels to achieve the right balance of succulent wild berry fruit, smooth tannins and integrated spicy character. Serve with beef ragout, lasagne or mushroom risotto.