SENSI COLLEZIONE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2018

“The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.” Benjamin Franklin.

The Montepulciano grape can be grown all over Italy, but it is most dominant in the province of Abruzzo. Wines produced from this grape can be either soft or bold tasting, and they are generally good value, consistent wines. I will normally tell people that any wine that states Montepulciano D’Abruzzo on the label is one to try just because of its consistent quality. It is very similar to Chianti, but can have as much as 15% Sangiovese, making it a good, dry blend that goes well with most foods.

I have written about this winery before when I featured their Campoluce Chianti, so some of this is a rehash. But, in case you missed it, Pietro Sensi began selling his wine in markets in 1895. Since then, his direct descendants have taken over and have passionately updated the winery and methods both to keep current with production standards as well as to pay tribute to their ancestors. Now, producing wines from vines grown naturally, without the use of fertilizers or pesticides is foremost in the minds of the owners. What you get here is a true tasting classic wine as wine should be.

This bottle is typically described as a little on the light side, smooth, dry and slightly acidic, which lends itself to a good table wine, a designation no longer commonly used. What that means is, it is better with a meal, a substantial one at that, than it is on its own. But don’t misunderstand, it also pairs well with hearty appetizers like roasted red peppers in olive oil, sopressata (dried sausage) or Locatelli cheese. You can also enjoy it solo, sipping a glass while relaxing inside, but because of the richness of the wine, I really would not recommend it for sharing on the patio on a hot, summer day unless your personal tastes go that way. Best to pair it with beef ribs or other rich meats like boar or other game meats. Naturally, it also goes well with a good Sunday gravy which would include sausage, braciole and even meatballs. For a Friday night date night, it also makes an excellent pizza wine, as long as the pizza is from a good place, not frozen, and not made on some assembly line or driven around for an hour waiting for someone to order it.

In the glass SENSI COLLEZIONE is a deep purple color which reflects room light beautifully. It would benefit from decanting for about 20-30 minutes just so it could breathe a bit before drinking. On the palate one can taste the influence of chocolate, licorice and red and black fruits as the liquid flows over the tongue and fills the mouth with deliciousness. This is a quality wine, produced with pride. The kind you can store and serve with pride.

When choosing a wine, any wine, it is good to know a little about the history of the winery and the family behind it. If nothing else it makes for good conversation. SENSI wines are celebrated as the pride and joy of Tuscany and is one of the region’s largest producers with a better than 100 year legacy and a commitment to excellence and consistency.