La Valentina: Three Montepulcianos, One Wine Identity

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.

DOC 2023 — €8-10

13.5% alcohol, bottled young, made to drink soon. Juicy and fresh, with lively red cherry and blackberry. No stewed-fruit effect; lightly spiced, a touch of tobacco and leather. Tannins fine and polished. Not a contemplative wine; honest pleasure for the money.

Spelt Riserva 2021 — €15-20

Immediately deeper in colour. The nose opens wide: ripe dark fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, sour cherry, then leather, tobacco, rosemary, thyme, sage and a hint of tomato leaf. The palate brings cocoa, cigar box and round, soft fruit. Tannin and acid in balance; no rough edges. Lightly chilled serving works.

For the price, a no-brainer.

Bellovedere 2020 — €40-50

This is where the game changes. Deep colour, a nose that unfolds in layers: red and black fruit, citrus zest, herb bouquet, tobacco, cocoa, dried fruit, damp forest floor. The palate is warm with fine, polished tannins and an unexpected purity. Complexity without weight.

“Like listening to music where every note is audible on its own.”

Detail: 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.