An interesting and relatively obscure Italian.. from Montepulicanio the grape, not from the wine region of Montepulicanio...

Elio Monti Montepulicanio d’ Abruzzo 2003 Abruzzi, Italy $17
What the Wine Critics Thought: Wine Advocate 90 Points
Now made with the assistance of Riccardo Cotarella, this once funky,unstable, and irregular wine (which never lacked concentration or intensity) has become a model citizen, especially evident in the 2003.This saturated dense purple-colored effort reveals a terrific bouquet of melted licorice, black pepper, smoke, and blackberries, good acidity,abundant fruit, and a medium to full-bodied, long finish. It is a tremendous wine for its price.

What we Thought: Starts with a spicy, Rhone-like nose and moves on to a very dry, medium-bodied palate of mixed berries and black pepper. This food friendly wine is smooth and soft all the way to the finish.

January 12, 2005