Wine Review: Terra d'aligi Tatone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Terra d'aligi Tatone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo clocking in at $15.95 /bottle is neither a bargain nor particularly expensive but it is a wine that ranks high in terms of QPR ("Quality-Price Ratio") and, as such, you should have in your cellar –preferably as part of your ‘ready to drink’ list in preparation for a weekly imbibe or for unexpected guests.

We suggest pairing this full bodied ruby red pleaser with pizza topped with sopressata, prosciutto, cappicola, or Italian sausage. As a wine and cheese pairing try with a pecorino and at a party use it to pinch hit as an alternative to a fruit forward shiraz as it provides sweetness and a crowd pleasing long finish but with balance and structure often absent from new world efforts.

Varietal

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Serving temperature

1-19 degrees Celsius subjective to one’s tastes and preferences

Related:

At almost double the price ($19.95) you should cellar the Terra d'aligi Tolos Montepulciano d'Abruzzo which is the serious bigger brother to the Tatone with bigger tannins, a longer finish and a superior nose; try pairing with rack of lamb or pot roast.

(Note: The Terra D’Aligi winery states that “Tatone is a dialectal word for “grandfather”, Tolos is an ancient construction made of stone, where the shepherds lived during the transhumance.”)

At the cheaper end of the scale there is the Terra d'Aligi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo –similar in characteristics to the Tatone -- which used to be priced at $11.95 but is no longer offered by the LCBO. Here’s hoping the LCBO will bring it back because surely we can all agree that life is too short to drink plonk; make good wine accessible and affordable for all.

4 Sukasa Stars