A rich wine. Dusty tannins, oxidative fruit and a clip of oak. Hollow. Drink now.

Rome's favorite companion to its beloved bucatini all'amatriciana is almost any Montepulciano-based red wine from the neighboring region of Abruzzo. Illuminati's 2016 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Ilico is an ideal pairing partner. The wine shows a bright spot of red or purple fruit, with ample notes of forest berry, cassis and dried blueberry. A lot of that freshness is characteristic of the classic 2016 vintage that tends to offer youthful fruit flavors straight out of the gate. Sprinkle your amatriciana with plenty of shaved pecorino for this one. This is a mid-weight wine with a balanced 13.5% alcoholic content. It ages in large oak casks for 12 months. Some 100,000 bottles were released.

Creamy cinnamon and nutmeg rise delicately from the 2012 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Ilico. Those oak-driven tones are followed closely by dark fruit, plum and dried blackberry. The fruit nuances are soft and warm. This a rich and thickly extracted Montepulciano with soft tannins and a fruit-forward personality. It would pair nicely next to homemade lasagna and meat sauce. Ilico is aged in oak barrel for nine months.

Readers looking for a red that over delivers should seriously consider Illuminati's 2008 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Ilico. Layers of expressive dark red fruit come together beautifully in this plump, generous Montepulciano. The Ilico possesses gorgeous balance and finessed tannins to round out the convincing finish. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. Illuminati is a good source for bold Montepulciano and Montepulciano-based reds. Importer: Tricana Imports, Plainview, NY; tel. (516) 935-4080