by Fergal Gleeson
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy
Price c $15

Somethings are hard to understand like why ladies get their hair curled into tight little ringlets when they go to weddings or why everything that didn’t get done last week was because of the Melbourne Cup!

Something else that is not easy is the pronunciation of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.  Apart from the invitations for a Greek- Polish marriage ceremony you are not likely to encounter more syllables anywhere else.

To go a little deeper Montepulciano is the grape variety. Abruzzo, a hilly region east of Rome is the source of this wine. While there are some fancier bottles around more commonly you’ll find “Monte’s” in the $10-20 dollar price range.

The best I’ve tasted is the Illuminati’s Ilico Montepulicano d’Abruzzo available from Dan’s. Illuminati Ilico follows the trajectory of many good easy drinking, Italian reds- mid weight with a balance of fruit, leathery tannins and refreshing acid on the back palate. This wine has no pretensions to greatness but has some interest.

I dare you tonight to march into your local bottle shop and in your loudest and most nasal Australian accent say “I’d like a bottle of your Fyynest Montepulciano d’Abruzzo please’’. I know you don’t speak like that but it will be funny!

Available from Dan Murphys. Rating: 3.5/5. For more Wine Reviews read and follow www.greatwineblog.wordpress.com  Drink and be merry!