Wines

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Le Murate Docg

The Montepulciano was first produced back in 1977. From 2014 we elevated this wine to the ranks of a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG, an authentic testimonial to this vineyard country and its cultivar. “Le Murate”, named after one of Notaresco’s old districts, is made from selected grapes from our legacy of Abruzzo pergola vines, planted in the 1970s, and from more recent plantings, which are about 15 years old.

Technical Specifications
Designation:	Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG
Area:	Abruzzo, Teramo hills
Variety:	Montepulciano 100%
Municipality:	Notaresco
Altitude:	250-300 meters
Aspecting:	East/south east
Soils:	Medium-textured limestone and clay
Training System:	Guyot, Abruzzo pergola
Density:	5,000-1,600 plants/hectare
Average age of the vineyard:	from 15 to 40 years
Average Yield:	90 quintals/hectare
Harvest Method:	by hand
Vinification:	Destemming and soft crushing, followed by 6-7 days of maceration on the skins. Devatting. Alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperatures in steel vats. About 30% of the wine is decanted to small, second passage French oak barrels (225 litres) for malolactic fermentation lasting 4 months. The blended wine matures in steel, then ages in wood. Prior to bottling is undergoes gentle filtration.
Bottle Ageing:	3 months
Production:	100,000 750ml bottles
Sensory Profile:	Intense ruby hues announce a nose of sour cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant followed by rose petals and a touch of black pepper. The velvety tannins accompany a plush palate. The rich flavour fuses perfectly with a structure vaunting an acid note bringing freshness and length.
Serving Companions:	Recommended with mature cheese and with first courses with savoury meat-based sauces, or mains of roast or barbecued meat.
Serving Temperature:	16-18 °C

Le Murate Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Docg 2016

Fattoria Nicodemi

Fattoria Nicodemi is in Notaresco, in the heart of the Colline Teramane zone. The hilly estate covers a single plot of 38 hectares, of which 30 are under vine. The land, at about 300 metres in altitude, is aspected to the south east, with Mount Gran Sasso watching its back, and the sea at about 10 kilometres. At the farm they work with organic practices, with no use of chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers on the vines, preferring spontaneous grassing in the rows. In the same spirit, the new vineyards are planted with a mass selection taken from our heirloom vines. We believe in biodiversity and even our new vines are selected from our heirloom cultivars, because something that was good in the past can play a role in the future.

Abruzzo

Italy is seldom known for the simplicity of its wines, yet the ruggedly mountainous region of Abruzzo offers an abundance of delightful, uncomplicated wines that tend to represent good value.

The region has three main, historical DOCs, including the red Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and white Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. The third DOC Controguerra is also for wines based on Montepulciano and other native grapes. Not to be confused with the town in Tuscany whose exceptional Vino Nobile is also gaining international recognition, the Montepulciano grape has gained a substantial following for its fruit-forward, complex yet approachable reds.

Some of the best wines come from the Teramo area, where a single DOCG exists for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane, while some classic rosé wines – known as Cerasuolo - are now offered under their own DOC appellation. The new Abruzzo DOC has several interesting, high-quality sub-zones for Montepulciano wines, such as Terre di Casauria, Terre dei Vestini and Alto Tirino.

The Trebbiano grape is best known for dry, light and easy drinking wines with subtle citrus flavours. However some interesting wines are being developed from the "authentic" Trebbiano d’Abruzzo grape, which some think to be related to Apulia’s Bombino Bianco. They are capable of developing in bottle for a few years into wines of great character and complexity.