Masciarelli

Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2017

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

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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.

VINEYARD

Montepulciano from the Colle Cave vineyard in Chieti, the vineyard above and behind the house of Gianni’s grandfather,and where his grandfather first started making wine in 1930. This steep-sloped site consists of limestone, clay and gravel, and the traditional pergola vine training is abandoned here for the French Guyot training system.

WINEMAKING

A mixture of tradition and innovation is employed for the Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. First, the must is macerated and fermented in 3-5,000L botti before being transferred to new French barriques for 18-24 months and another 24- 36 months in bottle before release.

VINTAGE

A year with a beautifully cold rainy winter with widespread and persistent snow, until the beginning of spring. From May onwards long periods of drought interrupted by isolated rainy events, often characterized by considerable intensity. The months of July and August were particularly hot with maximum temperatures often exceeding 40°C. From the phytopathological point of view, the vegetative season was particularly favorable, with a prevalence of warm and sunny weather and the lack of rain. Diseases were generally kept under control. The meteorological trend has determined a significant advance of the operations of harvest and, especially in the hilly vineyards exposed to midday, water strains that have hindered the physiological activity of the plants. One of the few harvests that ended in October.

TASTING NOTE

A deep ruby red with purple reflections, with bouquets of intense and persistent ripe red fruits on the nose. Spices, black pepper, cocoa, licorice and dried fruits on the palate.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Montepulciano

Appellation

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Alcohol

15%

Suggested Retail Price

$95.00

Reviews

"So balanced and polished"

James Suckling - August 23, 2022 "A gorgeous, polished Abruzzo red with crushed-stone, blackberry and blueberry aromas, as well as hints of graphite and pumice. Full-bodied and tannic, but so balanced and polished. Goes on for minutes. A top red from the region. " - J.S 8/22

"Silken waves of ripe red fruits"

Vinous (92+) - October 10, 2022 "The 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva is a dark beauty with balsam herbs giving way to spiced cookie, hints of cinnamon and citrus-kissed black cherries. It’s incredibly elegant in character with silken waves of ripe red and black fruits complemented by sweet spice. This saturates the palate with sweet tannins that create a structured feel, yet fail to slow the 2017’s momentum throughout the long and dramatic finale. There’s so much balance and intensity here, making the 2017 a sure bet for the cellar. " - E.G 8/22

"Sandalwood and Espresso "

Wine Spectator - March 24, 2023 "Exudes oak spices, melted licorice and smoke, which waft through finely knit flavors of baked blueberry and crème de cassis, with hints of iron, dried thyme, sandalwood and espresso. Rich and saturated in flavor, this is framed by supple tannins and lively acidity for balance. " - A.N 4/23

Wine Enthusiast - April 6, 2023 June/July 2023 Issue

"Bold"

Wine Advocate - July 10, 2023 "Coming in hot with a 15% alcohol content, the Masciarelli 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Villa Gemma is super rich and compact with thick layers of dark fruit, blackberry preserves, baked plum, spice, baking chocolate and toasted cinnamon. The wine sits heavy on the palate with substantial fruit weight. The style is very bold, especially in a vintage like this that brings on so much extra power due to the hot growing conditions." - M.L 7/23

Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

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.

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-wort 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.

Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

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.

Marina Cvetic Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Riserva

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

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.

Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ISKRA

ISKRA is a true outlier, representing a single vineyard handled in a particular way to create a wine of extraordinary distinction and depth.

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.