2020 Ruvido Carbo Rosso

Region: Chieti < Abruzzo < Italy

Grapes: Montepulciano

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic/biodynamic farming; limestone/ calcareous clay soils; carbonic maceration in whole bunches for 3 weeks in steel. Aging in fiberglass, without any racking, bottled unfined/unfiltered with no added SO2; zero-zero; 11.5% ABV; 150 cases

Winemaker: Alessio & Matias

Ruvido, whom we had the pleasure of visiting this summer, is the small Abruzzese project started by two twenty-something friends, Matias and Alessio. They were once opponents on the basketball court, became teammates, and then friends. They both loved wine -- Matias was a failed winemaker and Alessio, a sommelier as a pastime. With no history of winemaking in their families, no inheritance, and no land to their names, they decided to partner together and make wine. Everything done in the vineyards and winery is 100% by hand, from picking the grapes to de-stemming and crushing, with the mission of making delicious natural wines that are, like their motto, “Raw and Funky.”  

But don't let the motto scare you, these are super clean natural wines - no mouse or barnyard here.  We had a lovely lunch and visit with Alessio this summer, and tasted the new vintages, which are all fantastic, but this carbonic Montepulciano was our favorite.  Light, juicy with a touch of tongue-tickling fizz, the carbo treatment lifts the dense, often tannic, Montepulciano without masking the grape's trademark black fruit and herbal notes.  Refreshing and easy drinking, this is an excellent chillable fall/winter red, for food (it's versatile and works with everything) or for stand-alone enjoyment.

SERVE SLIGHTLY CHILLED