90+ Cellars Lot 188 Montepulciano

Lot 188 Montepulciano from 90+ Cellars is a 13.0% ABV red listed under California. The label points to the Montepulciano grape, which is not the same as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a Sangiovese wine from Tuscany. The listing doesn't state a vintage, a fermentation or oak regimen, or official tasting notes, so what follows describes how Montepulciano usually behaves in the glass. Expect a medium-to-full, deeply coloured red built on dark fruit: plum and blackberry are the usual anchors, often with a dried-herb note like thyme. Montepulciano typically brings soft, rounded tannins and moderate acidity, which makes it approachable without much bottle age. If this bottling saw oak, expect hints of spice, cocoa or smoke. If it was made in a fresher, tank-driven style, the fruit and herbal notes stay in front. At 13.0% ABV it should taste balanced rather than heavy. That moderate tannin and steady acidity make it a flexible dinner red. It suits tomato-based dishes, so pizza and pasta with a meat ragu are natural matches. It also works with grilled sausages, burgers, roasted peppers and aged hard cheeses. Spicy or heavily charred meats are fine too, since the wine's fruit can stand up to them. Serve it slightly below room temperature, around 60 to 65°F (16 to 18°C). A short 15 minutes in the fridge before opening is usually enough on a warm day. Wines in this style rarely need formal decanting. Pouring it into a decanter or simply letting it breathe in the glass for 20 to 30 minutes can soften any youthful edges. A standard red wine glass with a moderately wide bowl is the right choice. It gives the fruit room to open without exaggerating the alcohol. Most Montepulciano is made for near-term drinking, and this bottle is best treated that way. Open it over the next few years rather than cellaring it for the long term.