£12.75 (on offer), Jeroboams
Montefalco Rosso is one of my go-to Italian reds when I'm in Italy, an approachable alternative to Umbria's Sagrantino Montefalco, the monumental cult red that gets its tannic power and longevity from the Sagrantino grape. The Rosso is Sangiovese-based but has to include 10–15% Sagrantino, enough for its perfume, intensity and backbone to make an impact. Antonelli's blend of 70% Sangiovese and 15% each of Sagrantino and Montepulciano is a lovely example in which time taken over maturation has paid off. It spent a year in large oak casks then rested six months in concrete and six months in bottle, giving a vibrant but fleshy and velvet-textured wine with energising sour-cherry and raspberry fruit and warmer, earthier, spice, smoke and mineral flavours. A good match for, among many things, baked pasta dishes, ragùs, mushroom dishes, aubergine parmigiana, slow-roast pork belly, burgers, and hard cheeses. 13.5%. An obvious white wine partner for it is Antonelli's engaging, dry Montefalco Grechetto (lemon oil, peach and almond flavours), which is on offer at the same time at £10.35, down from £12.95. Both wines are organic.
Antonelli Montefalco Rosso 2015, Umbria, Italy
£12.75, down from £15.95 until on offer 17 March 2019, Jeroboams stores and online