Masciarelli
Marina Cvetić Iskra 2019
Colline Teramane DOCG
ISKRA, meaning “spark” in Serbian, was created by Gianni Masciarelli as a tribute to his wife, Marina Cvetic, who is from Serbia. A part of the Marina Cvetic wine line, ISKRA is a single-vineyard cru of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, showcasing extraordinary depth and distinction. This wine represents a different expression of Montepulciano, from a warm, high-quality site that was truly a spark of inspiration. Suave and elegant, it emphasizes red fruits and develops into a powerful finish, revealing the aging potential of the Montepulciano grape.
VINEYARD
The vines are located in the province of Teramo at an altitude of approximately 2,400 feet above sea level. Vine training is spurred cordon, and yields are low at 90 quintals per hectare.
WINEMAKING
The wine undergoes fermentation for 15–20 days in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Aging takes place in French barriques for 12 months, followed by 24 months in bottle.
VINTAGE
A cold, rainy April and May brought frost, blind buds, and difficult fruit set across the 2019 season, reducing both bunch numbers and berry weight. Two mid-July floods added further disruption, though the growing season recovered well in late summer. Early varieties were picked slightly ahead of schedule, while unsettled weather in early September brought Trebbiano and Montepulciano back in line. The challenging fruit set ultimately proved a qualitative advantage, concentrating flavors across all varieties despite a significant reduction in overall yield.
TASTING NOTE
Inky ruby. Bright flinty, smoky notes complement the dark, spicy plum aromas and flavors. Herbal nuances add a complicating touch on the long finish. Plenty of oak here, but it’s well integrated.
FOOD PAIRING
Red sauce pastas, wild boar, aubergine
Color
Red
Blend %
100% Montepulciano
Appellation
Colline Teramane DOCG
Alcohol
15%
Suggested Retail Price
$69
Reviews
Vinous - December 5, 2023 "Dark and brooding, the 2019 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Iskra slowly evolves. Clove and mocha hints further complicate the dried black cherry and sage aromas. It's elegant and refined with polished red and blue fruits carried across a mineral core as sweet wood spice sensations form toward the close. The 2019 is structured with fine-grained tannins that saturate as cocoa and balsamic spice slowly taper off. This strapping Iskra is built for the cellar."
Wine Spectator - August 31, 2024 "This plush red has a round creaminess, although sculpted tannins and balsamico acidity provide fine definition. Offers a ripe profile of plum pudding, blackberry coulis and vanilla elements, with savory notes of iron, Mediterranean macchia and fresh earth. Firm finish. Best from 2025 through 2034."
Wine Enthusiast - March 6, 2024 "The nose balances an earthy herbaceousness with fruit undertones of strawberries, candied cherries and dried cranberries. On the palate, dense, taut tannins and formidable acid provide framing for a powerful, salty dark chocolate note, but lingering dried red berries provide some levity."
Wine and Spirits - January 25, 2024
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Marina Cvetic Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Riserva
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The Trebbiano Riserva Marina Cvetic represents the ultimate expression for the estate of one of the historical vines of Abruzzo. Like Montepulciano, Trebbiano was once thought to be a workhorse grape without the potential to produce great wine. The interpretation of this wine is original and has a character. Marina Cvetic wines have full body and are elegant and are a “lone voice” for the most demanding and technical experts.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
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Masicarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is the benchmark for Montepulciano in Italy and the world. Pioneering winemaker Gianni Masciarelli, who put winemaking Abruzzo on the map, elevated the wines from his native region to new heights, and his Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a tribute to his home as well as a perfect introduction to the grape and to Abruzzo. This wine shows how, when handled with care, the late ripening Montepulciano grape produces refined wines of soft acidity, ripe and moderate tannins, and bright red berry and cherry notes with a distinct, spicy character.
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Gianni Masciarelli one day suprised his wife by presenting her with this wine, from the grape he made famous from the region, named after her. Croatian in origin, her first reaction was that no one would be able to pronounce the wine. Because of the outstanding sites used to produce the wine and the serious winemaking care it undergoes, Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo soon became the most widespread example of serious Montepluciano in the world.
Villa Gemma Abruzzo Bianco
Abruzzo Bianco
While the Villa Gemma Montepulciano was the wine that announced Abruzzo to the world, the Bianco, created just a year later, further defined what the region and grapes of Abruzzo could produce. This wine, first released in 1985, speaks to the white grape varieties specific to the region and has become on of the most exciting wines produced at the estate.
Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo
Abruzzo Cerasuolo
Perhaps the finest rosé production area in Italy, and one of the few appellations dedicated only to rosé, Cerasuolo has a long history of producing serious rosé, and showcasing how well the Montepulciano grape is adapted to rosé. Masciarelli first produced this wine in 1986, only 5 years after the winery was founded. With deep fruit and structure but no shortage of pleasure, it is a rosé you can take to the dinner table.
Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva
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Started in Gianni Masciarelli's grandfather's basement, Villa Gemma is the wine that announced Abruzzo to the world, showcasing what the region and grapes of Abruzzo could produce. Villa Gemma Montepulciano Riserva is the only Italian wine with 14 consecutive Tre Bicchieri awards and, more importantly, was the wine that established Abruzzo as capable of making truly distinct, extraordinary wines. Villa Gemma Montepulciano Riserva is a powerfully - almost undeniably - intense wine of character and complexity, with deep fruit and earthy, spicy secondary charachteristics that could only come from the Montepulciano grape in Abruzzo.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
Trebbiano d'Abruzzo
Trebbiano is the white grape that Gianni Masciarelli fought so hard to legitimize. In Abruzzo, the specific clone is different than the high yielding, sometimes simple version of the grape found elsewhere in Italy. On Abruzzo's soils, this variety of Trebbiano creates immensely expressive, a touch opulent, and age-worthy wines.
Rosato
Colline Teatine IGT
Abruzzo and the Montepulciano grape are famous for making arguably the finest rose in Italy, from one of the only appellations in Italy dedicated completely to rose; Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo. This Rosato is the little sister - a fresh and totally delightful expression.
