Corte Fiore Appassimento

Corte Fiore's Appassimento is labeled with the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo region and an alcohol level of 14.0%. The name points to appassimento, the Italian practice of partially drying harvested grapes before fermentation. That concentrates sugars and flavor, and wines made this way usually show riper fruit and a rounder, fuller texture than the same grape vinified conventionally. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a red-wine denomination built on the Montepulciano grape, so expect dark cherry, plum and blackberry, possibly with dried-fruit, cocoa or spice notes. The modest tannins and moderate acidity typical of the grape tend to show up as plush, easygoing structure rather than grip. The 14% alcohol fits that fuller style, and a warm, medium-length finish is likely. At the table, this style suits food with richness and savory depth. Think ragù over pappardelle or tagliatelle, grilled lamb chops, sausages with peppers, braised beef, or a tray of baked pasta. Aged pecorino and other firm, nutty cheeses also work well. Spicy or heavily sweet sauces tend to clash with the fruit-forward profile, so keep seasoning to herbs, garlic and tomato. Serve it slightly cooler than room temperature, around 16 to 18°C (60 to 64°F). A short 20 to 30 minutes in the fridge before opening helps if the bottle has been stored somewhere warm. A brief decant, or about half an hour open in the glass, can loosen the aromas, though this is a wine meant to be approachable and does not need long aeration. Use a medium-sized red wine glass with a moderately wide bowl so the fruit can open up without exaggerating the alcohol. Wines of this type are generally made for enjoying within a few years of release rather than for long cellaring. Treat this as a drink-now bottle, best kept somewhere cool, dark and stable until it is opened.