Illuminati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Ilico

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.

A well-balanced proposition from this producer, opening with aniseed, licorice, blackcurrants and citrus. Medium to full body, polished, integrated tannins and a medium-chewy finish with some real acidity drive. How it should be done. Drink now or hold.

Dried cherry, prune, tobacco, walnut and spices on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and bright acidity. Richly flavored with chocolate-orange notes on the finish. Drink or hold.

Some balance of fruit and oak to this riserva. Medium-bodied with fine oak and fruit tannins that are melded together. Could do with more fruit mid-palate. A little two-dimensional, but structurally sound and a decent drink now.