WineAlign

• By John Szabo, MS
  5/31/2018 (link)

  (Valle Reale Montepulciano D'abruzzo, Doc red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Michael Godel
  5/30/2018 (link)

  (Valle Reale Montepulciano D'abruzzo, Doc red) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  11/13/2008 (link)

  (Valle Reale MONTEPULCIANO) Valle Dear Friends, This was just confirmed and it's been very difficult for me to find. May I present this wonder of a wine that has just won Italy's version of bargain of the year with one of the lowest priced GR3's ever for a serious red wine of this ilk. The scramble is on in Italy to acquire this wine as Gambero Rosso typically saves its Tre Bicchieri award for more lofty and ambitious results but this mini-marvel could not be denied. With one of the more spectacular vineyard sites in Italy, the Montepulciano from this producer can be so underpriced it's a showcase for how value still reigns supreme in the south. Throw pretension out the window, this is about impact in its most delightful sense with a real front, middle and end - for $15, many of you will be hard-pressed to find fault with this wine, raised only in used oak (no new oak at all). To get an idea of the natural surroundings, It's worth looking at this URL for the beautiful photos of this area, near the Gran Sasso national park: http://www.vallereale.it I'm about to board a plane but I was able to cut and paste this information from the winery web site to give you more background (even though it's from the winery it is quite accurate, although translated from Italian): "The Land - This is the oldest vineyard of our winery. Situated in the south side, it is constituted from a good pebbly soil and little clay. From late morning to late night, this area has a constant ventilation, that mitigates the strong daytime irradiation during the summer period and ensures the health of the bunches during the phase of maturation, contributing to the drop of temperatures at night. The Vineyard - The vine is the traditional one being an old vineyard, but the management is marked according to the modern ways of the wine-producing science. With the purpose to contain production, the soil is not worked on but lead with permanent turf management. The nutritional contribution is contained and calibrated in function with the condition of the plants. The management of the green answers to the requirement that favors a vegetative-productive balance of the plants. The pruning of the bunches is performed systematically when they turn dark in colour. The Wine - From an almost impenetrable ruby colour that reveals itself with violet tones, opens an intense nose that registers clear mineral notes of graphite and dark fruit, blackberry in primis, and draws on the deep end slightly balsamic nuances. The taste is always very soft and enveloping thanks to the sweetness of the tannins. The typical acid vein of these grapes, that gives a pleasant sense of freshness, also gives to the wine a dynamic taste that makes it better to appreciate the structure and the depth. In the long finish the mature nuances of fruit and of the bouquet return." This wine deserves the praise it's received - I'm sure it will be a major favorite among our customer base. Keep in mind, this is NOT the 2006 Vigna Nuove that seems to be on every store shelf in the US - this is their old-vine cuvee that is labeled simply as "Montepulciano" (most of this wine stays in Europe) This parcel is directly from the source with perfect provenance - one shipment only: 2006 Valle Reale Montepulciano (GR3) (There are no US listings for this wine, it is not in the country - this is not the Vigna Nuove) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy7768