Red wines from 21 to 34 euros

Type of wine: Red wine
Grapes: 100% Montepulciano
Ageing: 24 months in oak barrels, 6 months in bottle
Flavour: Full-bodied, smooth and persistent with sweet, silky tannins
Iconic range

Cocciapazza Torre dei Beati originates in Abruzzo, following methods dictated by organic regulations. In Loreto Aprutino, the company has 21 hectares of land, approximately 300 metres above sea level, 25 km away; the clay-limestone soils enclose the valley of the Tavo stream, rising towards the 3,000 metres of Gran Sasso. The location is strategic for the vineyards: during the day, temperate air comes from the sea; at night, however, the cold descends from the mountain, already covered in snow by September. The scalar harvests, usually three per year, are carried out in the part of the vineyard that enjoys the best pedoclimatic conditions, capable of producing the ripest and most structured wines.
The company is family-run and carries on a legacy founded on genuineness.
Cocciapazza Torre dei Beati is a very deep and dense ruby red, with violet reflections in its youth. The characteristic red fruit of Montepulciano, particularly broad and ripe, is in perfect balance with the rich spiciness of black pepper and liquorice, enhanced by typical balsamic notes, chocolate, and tobacco. Excellent structure and volume in the mouth, characterised by well-present tannins, but soft and evolved, of great maturity. Rich and caressing in the finish, with a very long persistence in the mouth.

Production approx. 80 quintals per hectare
Area Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, on the hilly area of Bucchianico (CH)
Vineyards Montepulciano d'Abruzzo of 35 years respecting the biodiversity of the territory and following the agronomic practices of organic farming.
Vinification The grapes, upon arrival at the winery, are destemmed and pressed. The must ferments in contact with the skins, first for 4 days at a temperature of 12 °C, then for another 20 days at a temperature of 28 °C. The wine is then transferred to French oak barrels where it ages for 18 months. At the end of this period, the wine is reassembled in stainless steel tanks and subsequently bottled.
Aging 6 months
Data Alcohol 14% vol.

Type Grilled meats and aged cheeses
Origin Abruzzo
Grapes Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 100%
Sensations Deep ruby red colour. Notes of ripe red fruit, wilted violet and underbrush such as plums, sour cherries and pronounced tertiary aromas of eucalyptus, liquorice, chocolate and tobacco. A warm, robust wine with elegant tannins, good structure and long persistence.
Vinification "In red: maceration and fermentation in steel for 8 - 10 days with selected yeasts at controlled temperature 22 - 24 °C. Spontaneous MLF. AGING 6 months in cement tank, 12 - 24 months in French oak barriques of 1st - 3rd passage and 24 months in bottle."
Alcohol Content 14% Vol

Vine
100% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape variety. Vineyard area of 5 hectares on the western hills of the Valle Peligna at about 400 metres above sea level. Clay soil, rich in skeleton with high organic matter. Ground covered with siliceous pebbles coated with a white limestone crust. Microclimate with high temperature variation between day and night, sustained ventilation. The training system is a spurred cordon. Average age of the vineyards is 25 years. Planting density is 4000 vines per hectare. Average yield per hectare is between 40 and 50 quintals. Winter pruning, green pruning, suckering, leaf removal. Manual hoeing at the base of the plants (without the use of chemical herbicides). Fertilisation with natural products: manure or green manure. Treatments with copper and sulphur (bio products, non-systemic). Manual harvest carried out by the first half of October, using 20Kg crates, so that the grapes arrive intact at the winery
Winery
Vinification with spontaneous fermentation in steel barrels with maceration of about 2 days. Maturation for at least 5 months in steel. Sulphites are added in quantities much lower than the maximum limit imposed by organic certification.
Wine
On tasting, it presents an intense rosé colour. Aroma of pomegranate and rose. Fresh and mineral taste. It pairs well with pasta dishes, white meats, cold cuts, but also fish. The elders of the village say that the wine of tradition had exactly these characteristics.

The grapes for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Valle Reale come from the vineyards of Popoli and from the Convento vineyard in Capestrano. These two areas have different climatic profiles. The Convento vineyard in Capestrano is located in the Piana di Ofena and Capestrano valley, nicknamed the “Oven of Abruzzo” - and is particularly warm in summer compared with Popoli. Both vineyards benefit from the large temperature difference between day and night, which promotes high levels of acidity. The Capestrano vineyard produces grapes that yield more structured wines, while the vineyards of Popoli favour aromatic complexity. Although the two areas have different soils, the stony component, typical of mountain regions, characterises both vineyards.
The Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Valle Reale matures very slowly and retains good acidity and aromas of small red berries. The spontaneous fermentation applied to the different grape selections has allowed us to obtain a unique wine, one that only a mountain area is able to express.

The vineyards are spread between the Langa and the Roero and include some of the finest crus in the Barolo area.

Vintage description

The 2022 vintage will be remembered as one of the earliest and most surprising ever: early, because by the beginning of October the harvest operations can be considered complete, and surprising because, given the climatic trend, the vine once again demonstrated an unparalleled ability to adapt. What was immediately evident from the outset was the lack of water reserves in the soil; spring also continued with fine weather, without significant rainfall. The highest temperatures compared with the historical average arrived from the end of May and lasted throughout June; the high temperatures, combined with the limited rainfall, led to accelerated growth. The harvest was therefore brought forward considerably, with the white grapes picked in the first days of September.

Grape variety: Nebbiolo
Harvest period: October
Vineyards: Roero area
Maceration: 10 days
FML: 100%
Ageing: some months in stainless steel before bottling

Data

Alcohol: 14.00% – Total acidity: 5 g/l – Dry extract: 26.4 g/l

Cellar notes

Da Batiè tells of the chalky sands from which it comes. The ripe, warm tones of the vintage are well balanced by its characteristic savouriness.