You were apparently in a good state of mind for this tasting. You started by introducing how Montepulciano is not among your favorites, yet you gave really good scores and enjoyed just about all of them. Just a demonstration of how actual tasting notes are more important than numbers. I have avoided Montepulciano d'Abbruzzo due to one I had several years ago that I did not find enjoyable. Perhaps it's time to give them another try.

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

I actually might have been a tad harsh on a few too

Cheers for tasting these underrated daily drinkers from Abruzzo. I recently got a riserva as a present, which was soft on the palate with black fruits, a tad bacon and enough length. These MA-wines are great value for money.

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Niceee and they can be very delicious

I’m so glad I came across your channel. Your tasting notes are great. Thank you!

@drmatthewhorkey

6 ай бұрын

Ahhh thank you!

Excellent video Matthew. It was nice to see you enjoying them more than you had anticipated. Maybe i need to give them another try myself!! I started my wine collecting life 40 years ago drinking Barbaresco and Barolo....so Nebbiolo will always be my favorite. Sangiovese and especially Super Tuscan's can be amazing. Thanks again for all your hard work making these videos!! (drinking the wines is not hard work 😜)

@drmatthewhorkey

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! I am team Sangio and a fellow NebHead too!

Great tasting, im usually not the biggest fan but I tried de sterlich the other night and was blown away! Will definitely try some more.

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Enjoy exploring MA!

I used to be a Montepulciano Vino Noble snob and thought d'Abruzzo was table trash. I realise that I missed a trick because there are some very good value d'Abruzzo offerings flying under the radar. I think we really have to open our minds in the modern wine world. This past year I've made some extraordinary discoveries which have really challenged, for the better, my perception of wine and it's really added to my enjoyment. As a connoisseur of Spanish wine I'm well aware of the underappreciation of excellent wine and there are other regions are tainted with that problem too, including large parts of Italy. Small producers selling great value stuff are sold in independent wine shops and often exclusively. I have recently discovered some great value wine from Puglia, sold by a a small shop in South Wales run by a Master of Wine. I'm really loving retailers like this and their honest recommendations are improving my wine journey. There's so much great wine out there and you don't have to pay a fortune. WT

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Niceee. I can’t wait for you to see several Spanish wine videos coming up!

It seems that the distinction of a wine professional and a wine geek/aficionado is being able to appreciate and assess wines even if they are not his/her/their favorite style or appellation. That's what you did here, at the beginning it was, "oh, Montepulciano isn't my thing". But at the end of the video, you were enjoying them more and more. I do enjoy them sort of at the medium bodied level, without too much extraction & oak aging. I try not open red wine until at least 3-- 4 years after the vintage and usually try to wait 6--7 years if I can. I can't say that I have ONE favorite Italian red cultivar, but some of my favorites would be: Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Aglianico, Nerello Mascalese, Corvina and Barbera. Nice video, I think these wines are a good beginning point for people curious about Italian reds. But they aren't quite yet ready for tannin and acidity bodybuilders. 🤣🤣

@drmatthewhorkey

6 ай бұрын

Very well said, the acidity and tannins can be a but much for those wanting to take the foray into Italian grapes. This is a good starter grape.

I think I agree with you. A decade ago I was into Montepulciano. But my taste has shifted more towards Sangiovese. But yes, Montepulciano is a good wine to suggest to people. But your video has made me curious to see other examples Montepulciano for myself, if I can find some of these in my area.

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Enjoy them!

Awesome video!!!

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Love the videos, your work-ethic is amazing! Why do you wear a scarf indoors? Always wanted to ask😜

@drmatthewhorkey

6 ай бұрын

🙏🙏🙏 Basement can get cold

Great tasting, I was looking for some good reviews on Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, I am looking at doing a tasting on Abruzzo wines. I have many favorite Italian grape varieties. From Carignolo from Sardinia, Nero d'Avola, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Nerello Muscalese!, Nibiolo, Fripatto, Cannonau (Grenache) from Sardinia, too many to mention. plus the whites

@drmatthewhorkey

5 ай бұрын

That should be a GREAT tasting!

Very underrated wines, not all of them are great, but some are real treasures: Tenuta Ulisse have two masterpieces: Amarantta the affordable one and the best Muntepulciano I've ever tasted is 10 Limited edition Vendemmie ten out of ten , honorable mention is In&Out Colefrisio

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Ohhh nice picks!

Last night I had the Italian wine By Caleo Zinfandel and it was amazing. Better than any Montepulciano I’ve had thus far. But that can change at anytime

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Wow!

How do the Riedel glasses compare to the Rovsya glasses you normally use?

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

They might not be as versatile but they feel more luxurious in the hand

For good solid drinking wine, it's Cotes du Rhone, then Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Years ago I would have said Zinfandel, but so many now are simple medium bodied wines that just taste over-cropped to me. Since I am somewhat old fashioned and like how tannins give a wine focus, I find myself gravitating more and more to the red wines from Portugal.

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

I love Portuguese wine to death!

Happy NY from Dolomites, Alps,Italy, Austria. Had a bottle of Montepulciano for 3 euros.Very fair wine.Unique...

@drmatthewhorkey

6 ай бұрын

Happy NY!

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a good easy drinking wine and is a wine I want to try more of. I had one the other night and was surprised how little tannins the wine had. What is my favorite Italian wine? It’s actually three; Vino Noble di Montepulciano, Sagittario, and Valpolicella Classico Superiore. I think Valpolicella Classico Superiore is a great everyday wine.

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Agreed on your last point!

What types of Oak do they use in Montepulciano, and how much do the environmental factors and terroir affect the grapes, being on the west side of the Adriatic? I love the descriptors and Montepulciano d'abbruzzo is one I only get at certain restaurants. I much prefer Sangiovese and Dolcetto, typically.

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Slavonian and French. Montepulciano produces good wine at even higher yields and since it’s bigger, I find differences to be more in between skilled producers as opposed to terroir

Im not a fan of Montepulciano. Actually my favorite grape in the world is Nebbiolo. I like when you reveal the wine right away like that. Thanks for sharing

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Nice! Stay tuned for a Barolo vs Barbaresco video

I really like your videos. Thank you for your insights. I don't want to look picky, but there is no -i- when pronouncing "Montepulciano". The i is just for the "chaa", otherwise it would be "ca".

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

Grazie!

Emidio Pepe all the way!

@drmatthewhorkey

7 ай бұрын

One of the greats!

Montepulciano is a village not a grape variety.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

In Italy, it’s both and they are often mixed up