Masciarelli Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2018

“The 2018 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Villa Gemma is a glass-staining purple in color. It lifts with an intense array of blackberry preserves, rum-soaked raisins, dusty sage and cacao. This is silky and supple with textural depths of ripe wild berry fruit and saturating spice guided by zesty acidity. There’s simply so much youthful concentration here, yet energy as well, as this finishes long with a staining of tart cranberry framed by gently grippy tannins. The 2018 really packs a punch, which says a lot from this challenging vintage. Enjoy this racy Villa Gemma Riserva over the next five to eight years. Drinking window: 2025-2032. 93 points”

Eric Guido, Vinous (09/23)