Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2016 (90 JD)

“Released under screw cap, the 2016 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo from Masciarelli offers a charming, medium-bodied, savory style as well as notes of spiced cherries, cedary herbs, leather, and dried flowers. It’s nicely balanced, medium-bodied, and has a clean, dry finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It’s about as gulpable as they come and is well worth seeking out. I suspect it’s a smoking value and would be one heck of a house red.”