{"product_id":"la-valentina-montepulciano-d-abruzzo-spelt-doc-2021-tuscany-italy","title":"La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2021 (Tuscany, Italy) - [VM 93]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003eAbout the Winery:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLa Valentina is a leading example of the modern renaissance of winemaking in Abruzzo. The region has a history as a source of inexpensive bulk wine production, but a new generation of winemakers have dedicated themselves to harnessing the excellent terroir to produce high quality rather than high quantity—and La Valentina is at the forefront of this movement. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than turning to international grape varieties or varieties that are more at home in other regions, the Di Properzio brothers remain true to the traditional varieties associated with Abruzzo: Montepulciano and Trebbiano Abruzzese, along with a time-honored but almost forgotten variety, Pecorino. The shift in focus is not in the grapes but in the way they are grown and vinified. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn all their vineyards, the Di Properzios have made a strong commitment to sustainability—avoiding the use of artificial or chemical products, ensuring maximum biodiversity, and relying on minimal intervention in the land’s natural processes. To this end, all the estate vineyards have been certified organic since 2016.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Valentina’s winemaking is managed by consulting enologist Luca D’Attoma, who joined the winery team in 1998. The winery’s philosophy is to intervene as little as possible in the natural wine growing processes, adhering to the concept that high-quality wine “has the mark of the vine on its grapes.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this Wine:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Spelt Montepulciano d'Abruzzo represents a fuller-bodied version of this traditional wine compared with La Valentina's Montepulciano d'Abruzzo in the Classica line. It is made with the first selection of Montepulciano grapes from the vineyards. In addition, all of the wine for Spelt is aged in wood, for a total of 18 months. The result is a more robust and complex wine. The name Spelt refers to a type of wheat (faro in Italian) that once grew where the La Valentina winery and village of Spoltore (whose name itself derives from spelt) are now located.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrapes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e100% Montepulciano\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAging:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAged \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e16 months, plus another 2 months in the casks after blending, 40% in barriques or larger barrels (tonneaux), 60% in 2,500-liter Slavonian oak casks. This is followed by 12 months in bottle before release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - Vinous Media:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVibrant from the first tilt of the glass, the 2021 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Spelt is impossible to ignore. Blood orange and peppery rose complicate crushed blackberries and sage. This is silky smooth with an elegant wave of ripe red and blue fruits. Clove and dark chocolate notes add a pleasantly bitter tinge toward the close. The 2021 tapers off with fantastic length and a gentle tug of fine tannins, leaving a zesty wild berry concentration that adds youthful poise. This is a great example of oak integration (50% new) and how well it can work when applied properly.\" - Eric Guido (Sep 2024)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CHAMBERS \u0026 CHAMBERS","offers":[{"title":"750 mL","offer_id":53271324361069,"sku":null,"price":31.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/spelt.png?v=1777480872","url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/products\/la-valentina-montepulciano-d-abruzzo-spelt-doc-2021-tuscany-italy","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}