La Chiamata Montepulciano Riserva 2018

An ultra-rare find, La Chiamata Montepulciano Riserva is an impressively ripe, barrel-aged wine from rising star winemaker Ludovica Crugnale, the mastermind behind one of our customers’ most-loved Italian reds.

A trained oenologist, she traveled the world gaining experience, working in California and Australia before ultimately following la chiamata (the calling) back home to Abruzzo, in central Italy, to create characterful wines that express her region authentically.

Though talented, driven and independent in her work, she considers the wine to be a collaboration with two near-and-dear people who share her passion: Her friend Signora Maria Elisii—who, since the 1980s, has been carefully tending to a small, less-than-10-acre plot of Montepulciano in the sparsely populated subzone of Caroso—and Riccardo Cotarella, her longtime mentor and arguably one of the most important oenologists in all of Italy.

“This fine, rare Riserva is a testament to their expertise and the special terroir of Abruzzo, my homeland,” says Ludovica.

Made from old-vine fruit hand harvested from Maria’s perfectly situated vineyard and crafted in an ultra-modern cellar, it was aged nine months in a mix of large oak barrels and smaller barriques before being left to mature further, undisturbed in bottle.

The result, says Ludovica, is “pure Montepulciano… [that] shows attractive maturity, with dried fruit flavors, hints of balsamic and clove spice notes.”

While we believe such a beautiful wine deserves to be savored on its own, its surprisingly ripe red berry tones would be delicious alongside hard cheeses, tomato-based pasta dishes or hearty roasted vegetables.

As you may have assumed, stocks of this wine are extremely limited. Secure yours soon.