Tiberio, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 'Colle Vota' 2021

If you asked us to put together a list of must-know Italian wines from outside Tuscany and Piedmont, Tiberio would be at the top of the list. They come from Abruzzo, where Cristiana Tiberio took over her family winery after working at Jacques Selosse, Nicolas Joly, and Egon Muller. For the last decade, both her whites and reds have helped redefine the region, and become increasingly allocated in the process.

The Colle Vota is right there with Emidio Pepe and Valentini for best expression of montepulciano in Abruzzo, or for that matter, anywhere else. It’s spicy and dark-fruited, with more elegance and detail than you ever find from this grape.