Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2021

The 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva San Martino Rosso is darkly floral with a woodland-inspired bouquet that blends flowery underbrush with crushed ashen stones and dried black cherries. It's round and supple with ripe red and blue fruit complicated by a tinge of pepper. Violet inner florals swirl throughout. This tapers off with a pleasantly chewy sensation, long and staining. Edgy tannins add youthful tension without slowing the 2020's momentum.

A firm, sculpted red, with muscular tannins enmeshed in compact layers of black currant and boysenberry fruit, plus dried thyme, smoke and dark chocolate pudding accents. Hints of anise, paprika, singed orange peel and tobacco play on the tightly meshed finish. Decant. Best from 2027 through 2035. 21,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.

The nose is spicy and tart, with aromas of cinnamon, thyme, graphite, cranberries, plums and blackberries. The palate has more tart fruit notes of blackberry and plum skin, but grippy, fierce tannins fortify gritty, balancing flavors of coffee grinds, soil and dark chocolate.