2020 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, 2021 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Tralcetto, and 2021 La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Wine Pairing Tasting and Reviews

2020 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, 2021 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Tralcetto, and 2021 La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Wine Pairing, Tasting, and Review

Wine: Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Region: Italy, Abruzzo

Year: 2020

Price: $12.99

Retailer: Total Wine

Alcohol: 13.5%

Grapes: Montepulciano

Professional Rating: Reverse Wine Snob 7.5 (7 taste)

What we tasted and smelled in this Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo:

  • On the nose: Black cherry, cherry licorice, plum, cinnamon, baking spice, blackberry pie, smoke, smooth, forest, evergreen, chalk 
  • In the mouth: Smooth, acidic, food wine, chalky, tart cherry, red plum, grapyness, violets, floral. Solid wine. Crowd pleaser. Easy to drink. 

Food to pair with this Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Good food wine, red sauce pasta, pizza, red meat, chicken, spicy foods, very versatile, barbecue, good cookout wine, grilled food. 

As a reminder on our rating scale, we rate on a scale of 1-10, where 7 and above means that we would buy it, and 4 and below means that we are likely to pour it down the sink, and a 5 or 6 means we are likely to drink it and finish it, but we are probably not going to buy it. 

Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Wine Rating: 

  • Joe: 7/10
  • Carmela: 7/10

 

Wine: Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Tralcetto

Region: Italy, Abruzzo

Year: 2021

Price: $12.97

Retailer: Total Wine

Alcohol: 13%

Grapes: Montepulciano

Professional Rating: Ken’s Wine Guide 89

What we tasted and smelled in this Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Tralcetto:

  • On the nose: Rich, cherry, juicy, smokiness, black cherry, plum, black fruit jam
  • In the mouth: Jammy, medium bodied, juicy, not complex, easy to drink, crowd pleaser

Food to pair with this Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Tralcetto: Spaghetti and meatballs, cookout, grilled foods, barbecue, lasagna, pizza, very versatile

Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Tralcetto Wine Rating: 

  • Joe: 7/10
  • Carmela: 7/10

 

Wine: La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Region: Italy, Abruzzo

Year: 2021

Price: $14.99

Retailer: QFC

Alcohol: 13.5%

Grapes: Montepulciano

Professional Rating: JS 91, WS 89, V 88

What we tasted and smelled in this La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo:

  • On the nose: Floral, violets, fruity, cherry, raspberry, band-aid, red Twizzler
  • In the mouth: Tasty, tart, smooth, cleans off the tongue, medium-bodied, juicy, strawberry Twizzler, strong taste of tea at the end, a good wine, energetic

Food to pair with this La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Can strand up to a big meal, cheeseburger, Middle Eastern food, Easter wine, lamb

La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Wine Rating: 

  • Joe: 8/10
  • Carmela: 8/10

Which one of these are you finishing tonight?

  • Carmela: La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
  • Joe: La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Three really solid wines, and great wines for parties and a real crowd pleaser

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