Juicy black plum and black cherry notes pick up hints of tobacco and spice in the modest finish. Drink now.??–NW??Region: Italy / Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Select to Add

The 2010 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a juicy, mouth filling red loaded with dark fruit supported by a streak of minerality that provides focus and length. There is nothing fancy here, just a hugely enjoyable everyday red that can be had for a song. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2013. Farnese makes a wide range of wines but I nearly always gravitate towards the low end, where there is less of an effort to build the wines in the cellar. It is clear the estate is working with high quality fruit. It would be nice to see a more restrained approach in the cellar. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

The 2007 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is packed with spiced dark cherry fruit. This vibrant, joyful red offers excellent length and terrific balance. Frankly, it is a steal at this price. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2009. These new releases from Farnese offer exceptional quality for the money. The wines are clean, correct and delicious, as long as the estate doesn’t stray too far from its core strength of making simple, well-made wines. Farnese offers two ranges in the value category, the first of these is a line of simple, varietal wines, while the Casale Vecchio series consists of special selections.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900