The other Montepulciano

In this flight we see two tiers of wine from Nicodemi.

Nicodemi, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2006 There’s tar and black fruits mingled with a bit of cheese rind and earth in a very tannic profile. This wine features a pronounced sense of the horse saddle – yet it works in a rustic way. Estate bottled in Notaresco 13% $13.69 at Bottle Barn

Nicodemi, Montepluciano d’Abruzzo, Colline Teramane DOCG, Notàri 2005 My notes from the previous vintage state: quite tannic with fresh fruit in the background – awkward like Petite Sirah can be but for a fan of PS, this is great. The 2005 in the glass tonight is smoky with some notes of stewed fruit and a hint of onions marinated in vinegar. The tannin profile is as big as the previous wines, in an astringent way, with a healthy dose of the horse. This is rustic and not for everyone yet with some blood sausage it would work. Estate bottled in Notaresco 13.5% $22.49 at Bottle Barn Nicodemi

About RJ

Ray Johnson is the Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. He writes about food and wine, his travels and the business of wine. He makes his home in Sonoma County, California.
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2 Responses to The other Montepulciano

  1. AJ says:

    I just had my second bottle of the 2006 Nicodemi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. That darned bottle variation or was it my pensive mood. Yes I did go to the Barn today and pick up three more bottles after trying it a few days ago. 1st bottle; blueberries, black cherries, clove and spice,lots of pepper,candied licorice, juicy lush mouth feel with a medium length finish. 2nd bottle; black fruit, white pepper and not much else.

  2. Ray says:

    I don’t think it was your mood but rather the bottle variation. Barry Gump says that the brett experience can certainly be uneven, with some bottles blooming to a much greater degree and while others are clean. RJ

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