2001 Masciarlli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

[hotwine]

Estate bottled. Dark almost to the rim, almost opaque... beautiful nose of crushed fruit and wet leaves but a bit grapey, almost Kool-Ade, on the tongue. Short finish, 13% alc/vol and about $8 at World Market. Not bad at all with pizza but I'm spoiled, could have been much better, even for the bargain price.

[Innkeeper]

We've been drinking a lot of this over the past year mainly by the glass in restaurants. We like it both as a quaffer and with food, Italian Food. Picked up a couple of bottles at Micucci's in Portland recently for $7.49, and popped one tonight with pasta in Italian tomato sauce, sweet Italian sausage, and salad with BV and EVOO. It is a great tasting value in our opinions. Maybe decanting helped, but being an '01 it really didn't need it.

[Kcwhippet]

We've been into this one since we first had it at a local resto (Scioletti's - long since gone) about 14 - 16 years ago. Back then it was $15 on the restaurant wine list.

[Innkeeper]

The '02s have been in at Micucci's all summer at the same price, and we've been having them with pasta in fresh tomato and basil sauce over the last few weeks. The one we had tonight drew more raves than previous ones so I guess it's peeking. This has to one of the best buys in the whole world.