Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 'Ilico' Illuminati 2019

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo "Ilico" is an intense and rich red, expressing all the generous expressive power of Montepulciano and the peculiar characters of the Controguerra territory, capable of combining the freshness of the hinterland, with the warm and soft notes of a more Mediterranean style. The refinement for 10 months in barrel allows to preserve the fruity characters and the varietal vigor of Montepulciano, combined with evolutionary notes that soften it by giving the wine a more harmonious sip and a greater expressive complexity.

The red wine "Ilico" is made with Montepulciano grapes that come from the vineyards cultivated in the area of Val Vibrata, specifically in the Controguerra area, in the province of Teramo. The estate is located in the inland hills, at an altitude of about 260 meters above sea level. The cool, breezy climate, mitigated by the gentle breezes coming from the Adriatic Sea, and the suitable soils, consisting mainly of clay, give well-ripened grapes with rich aromatic profiles. The vines are still grown using the traditional marquee method. After destemming and soft crushing, the grapes are sent to fermentation, which takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28 °C, with a long maceration on the skins. The wine matures for a period of 10 months in 25-hectoliter Slavonian oak barrels and ends its aging with 3 months in bottle before being released on the market.

Illuminati's Montepulciano d'Abruzzo "Ilico" wine represents a beautifully balanced version of this historic Abruzzo grape variety. Barrel aging allows to smooth out some of the youthful harshness of Montepulciano, but without changing its strong and impetuous character. The wine has an intense ruby red color with slight violet hues. The nose expresses aromas of cherry, blackberry, plum, spicy hints and slightly toasted nuances. The sip is warm, full and satisfying, with dense tannins well balanced by rich, soft fruit. The finish is pleasantly fresh and persistent.