Deep ruby color; black plum, blackberry, cherry, boysenberry, redcurrant, violets, black and white pepper, spice, earth on the nose and palate.
Dry; moderate, integrated tannins provide framework; good acidity (not specific in notes for 2022, but 2021 was 3.44 pH, 5.40 g/L). Medium-plus body; smooth mouthfeel. Good balance between fruit, tannin, and acidity. Very approachable with some depth, especially for a wine in this price category. Pure montepulciano grape effort. Zaccagnini grows its grapes organically, but does not claim that for its wines because some grapes are purchased and the winery cannot guarantee they were organically grown. 13% ABV
Grapes were gently pressed. Submerged cap maceration with fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Wine aged in stainless steel until bottling. Montepulciano is classic grape of central Italy, most prominently in Abruzzo, where this wine is made. This wine is 100% montepulciano, the major red grape in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy, two driving hours east of Rome. The Apennine Mountains are the western border, the Adriatic Sea the eastern border. The story is you can ski in the mountains in the morning and go to the beach in the afternoon.
The 500-acre Ciccio Zaccagnini is located in Bolognano, alongside the Rome-Pescara highway in the Pescara province. Established in the early 1970s, it is 30 miles from the Adriatic coast and eight miles from the 9,000-foot Maiella Mountain. Marcello Zaccagnini directs the operation. Concezio Marulli is the winemaker. Their slogan: “Wine, art of man.” The tralcetto (stick) is an actual grapevine cutting from the vineyard that is cut and tied by hand with raffia onto each bottle to represent the connection between the vine and the land. Zaccagnini says it exemplifies his philosophy: “nothing from the vine is thrown away.”
Cantina Zaccagnini il vino ‘dal tralcetto’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Red Wine, Italy DOC 2022 is a tasty, fresh, clean presentation of montepulciano from Abruzzo by a conscientious maker. Good dark fruits, excellent balance, smooth, easy drinker. Exceptional value. Pairings—red meat; grilled sirloin, slow-cooked beef brisket, gourmet burgers, roast leg of lamb, venison, rabbit stew, wild boar. Roast duck with green peppercorn sauce, pork tenderloin. Italian food in general, pizza is classic pairing, pasta dishes, pasta carbonara, beef Bolognese, lasagna, baked ziti. Cheese—parmigiano-reggiano, parmesan, pecorino, pecorino d’Abruzzo, asiago, provolone, Mongomery’s cheddar, gruyere, gorgonzola. $15
