Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2006

A Christmas Day tasting with a comparison part 2... note... 2006 riserva has 2 red diagonal stripes on the label and in between the stripes is the vintage and riserva.

EXPERIENCE
The cork reveals nothing. The nose is cloves. Has balance with a sweet and dryness to it. Good amount of jam and fruit, the finish is slightly dry but not over powering. It is quite silky and we try not to use that term loosely. However for the price, well it just is. Medium bodied and smooth or as we tend to say balance balance balance.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP. The 2006 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva cost right around $13. This wine is one of the more valued wines for the price. If we had a Great and Cheap category this wine would be in it. We tasted this wine and the Vallevo side by side and with the same verdict. But if you see this wine on the shelf PICK IT UP and enjoy. This wine stands apart from the rest, when it comes to quality for the price! The wine is also known loosely as the toggle wine. For the wooden toggle that is twined on the bottle.

FACTS
Classified DOC, and comes from Montepulciano in the region of yes you guest it AGAIN Abruzzo. Fermentation with the skins in stainless steel and aged in oak barrels for 6 months and another 3 in the bottle. The winery has an aesthetically pleasing website...www.cantinazaccagnini.it

Vallevo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2008

EXPERIENCE
The cork is synthetic. The nose is light and jammy but solid. The first taste is light with spice and slightly thin but not bad, with a mildly dry finish. The wine has some body with some dark plum or even an olive. Right after the pour the wine is fuller then as it opens it becomes "weaker" or "thin" with the spicy and dry finish. Surprisingly bold for the body.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP. The 2008 Vallev∂ Montepulciano d'Abruzzo cost right around $12 (it has been found on line for around $9). It is one of the more valued wines for the price. It does not have the "wow" factor however for the price you will not be disappointed either...... (more to come next post)

FACTS
Classified DOC, and comes from Montepulciano in the region of yes you guest it Abruzzo. Not to be confused with the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which comes from Tuscany. There isn't much information on the Vallevo wines (I know of 3), according to our research this wine is recommended quite a bit. The quality for the price seems to be a huge hit. And we don't disagree.