Controvento - "Edizione Speciale" Montepulciano 2020 750 ML (14.5% ABV)

From Enzo, the owner: "Controvento is a small winery from Abruzzo. The company was founded by my father in 1978. I took control of the company 11 years ago and have been the sole proprietor and winemaker ever since. The vineyard spans a total of 5 hectares and is situated inside the protected area of “Fosso delle Farfalle” in the town of Rocca San Giovanni, just off the Adriatic Sea in Abruzzo. The vineyard has 1 newer section totaling another hectare with vines planted 5 years ago. The vines of my farm are between 21 and 23 years old.  Controvento is certified organic, and 100% Natural. We use absolutely no chemicals on our vines and in our cellar no addition or manipulation of any kind is done during the vinification process. The wines never have any So2, are never clarified, never fined and are allowed to spontaneously ferment." Vegan friendly.

Big, smoky, dark fruit, not your typical table Montepulciano. Intense nose of plum, boysenberry, herbs, and spice, generous structure to stand up to heartier meat dishes. "Controvento" means "upwind" in Italian, a reference to the cooling influence of nearby Adriatic Sea. Soil is clay, sandstone, limestone.

varietal: Montepulciano

region: Abruzzo, Italy

farming/cellar: organic/biodynamic. ambient yeast. no added so2. unfined/unfiltered. vinified in steel. 

pairing: pork shank osso buco, lamb ragu