2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Archivio
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Tasting notes
The sweet, baked red fruit of the vintage seems to carry through both of the reds in 2018. There’s a softness to the fruit, yet still power behind. It’s full-bodied and firm, yet the most approachable of the trio of 2018, 2019 and 2020, with fresh, juicy acidity.
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Eric Guido, Vinous
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The 2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Archivio is a dark and multifaceted beauty, slowly unwinding in the glass, inward and viral, hauntingly floral, dusty and rooted firmly in the earth. An enthralling mix of smoky grilled herbs, graphite and tart black cherries come together with sage, lifted by dried flowers and hints of fresh mint leaf. It’s rich yet elegant, like crushed velvet draped across the senses, pliant and potent, lifted by brilliant acidity, while staining the palate with citrus-tinged raspberries. There is so much concentration within, echoing purple-tinged florals and lavender tones as this tapers off with incredible length, lightly structured and with a tart wild berry twang. A salty flourish keeps me coming back to the glass. While this may not be as structured as the 2017, the 2018 instead impresses on its immaculate precision and balance. Archivio is produced from the oldest pergola-trained vines on the Tiberio estate, which grow in clay-rich soils. Around 30% of the wine is matured for twelve months in new barrique, yet the integration is perfect. This is a whole new level for Cristiana Tiberio.
About the producer
Tiberio is one of Italy’s most exciting names. Cristiana Tiberio is at the helm of this Abruzzo estate today, which was founded by her father Riccardo. Known in particular for its old-vine Trebbiano Abruzzese, Tiberio now sits alongside Valentini and Emidio Pepe as a leading light of the region.