La Valentina Montepulciano: 3 Wines, 3 Price Tiers

Three glasses in front of you, all the same grape (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo), all from the same producer. What do selection, vintage and ageing actually do to the bottle in your hand? That was the exercise: La Valentina’s DOC 2023, Spelt Riserva 2021 and Bellovedere 2020 lined up side by side.

Tasting Notes

Below the tasting notes for three Montepulciano d’Abruzzos: the young DOC 2023, the aged Spelt Riserva 2021, and the top-cuvée Bellovedere 2020. Per bottle: appearance, nose, palate, finish.

DOC 2023: €8-10

13.5% alcohol, bottled young, made to drink soon. Honest pleasure for the money, no contemplation required.

Tasting Note

Tasting Note DOC 2023

Appearance

Clear ruby red, lively and youthful in the glass.

Nose

Juicy red fruit; fresh cherry and blackberry carry the aroma. Lightly spiced underneath, a touch of tobacco and leather. No stewed-fruit effect.

Palate

Juicy and fresh, the same red-fruit set the nose promised. Tannins fine and polished, acid in balance. Medium body, easy to drink.

Finish

Medium length, spiced fruit lingers. Pairs with pizza, tomato pasta, grilled vegetables.

Spelt Riserva 2021: €15-20

Immediately deeper in colour than the DOC. For the price, a no-brainer. Lightly chilled serving works.

Tasting Note

Tasting Note Spelt Riserva 2021

Appearance

Dark ruby red, denser and more concentrated than the DOC 2023.

Nose

Opens wide: ripe dark fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, sour cherry. Underneath leather, tobacco, rosemary, thyme and sage, with a hint of tomato leaf.

Palate

Cocoa, cigar box and round, soft fruit. Tannin and acid in balance, no rough edges. Fuller than the DOC, still graceful.

Finish

Long, herbal and mineral. Works with grilled red meat, mushrooms, harder cheeses.

Bellovedere 2020: €40-50

This is where the game changes. Top cuvée, longer ageing, tighter selection.

Tasting Note

Tasting Note Bellovedere 2020

Appearance

Deep ruby red with garnet tones at the rim. A visibly mature wine.

Nose

Layered: red and black fruit, citrus zest, herb bouquet, tobacco, cocoa, dried fruit, damp forest floor. Each aroma stays audible on its own.

Palate

Warm with fine, polished tannins and unexpected purity. Complexity without weight. Fuller than the Spelt, never over-steered.

Finish

Long, layered, mineral. Demands its own attention; pairing ideas: aged Parmesan, lamb stew, truffle risotto.

A note for collectors: this bottle still uses the traditional heavy Italian glass, while La Valentina is moving the rest of the range to lighter material.

What the house style is

Three price tiers, three complexity levels, and still the same signature:

• Soft, never aggressive
• Round, balanced
• Fruit-led and clean
• Restrained extraction, no over-steering

Whether you spend €10 or €50, the identity holds. That is rarely this consistent.

Final word

La Valentina is still looking for Dutch importation. For anyone wanting genuine Abruzzo without the Brunello posing: this house earns its place on the shelf.

Sources

• Producer (official site)
• Consorzio Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo: vinidabruzzo.it