Montepulciano d'Abruzzo · Montepulciano
2020s
A return to balance after disease-hit 2023-24 — healthy Montepulciano with deep colour and vibrant acidity. Promising. Ageing · releases 2027
Heavy spring rainfall and Peronospora pressure across Abruzzo reduced yields sharply. A warm, dry late summer allowed recovery for disciplined producers. Expect medium-bodied, fresher wines — a step up from the difficult 2023. Releasing 2026
Challenging. Extreme rain and mildew (Peronospora) decimated yields. Quality is variable. Released 2025
Drought year. Wines are surprisingly fresh; not as heavy as 2003 or 2017. Released 2024
Exceptional. Cool spring, perfect ripening. High acidity and deep structure. Released 2023
Very good; warm and sunny. Wines are open-knit and delicious early. Released 2022
2010s
Classic. Benchmark year. Deep color, vibrant acidity, great structure. Released 2021
Very good; a wetter spring, but a long, cool autumn saved the reds. Elegant style. Released 2020
"Lucifer" Heatwave. Drought reduced yields by 40%. Wines are concentrated but tannic.
Perfect. The "Goldilocks" vintage. Harmony between power and elegance.
Excellent. Warm and generous. Wines are fleshy, fruity, and approachable.
Difficult. Cool and wet. A great year for Cerasuolo (Rosé), tough for Reds.
Cool/Rainy. Difficult for Reds (better for Whites/Pecorino).
Very good; warm summer, but wines held freshness well.
Hot; wines are rich and alcoholic, but tasty.
Classic. Perfect balance. Wines have tension, depth, and great longevity.
2000s
Earthquake year (L'Aquila). Warm, but difficult emotions and variable wines.
Very good; cool year, aromatic and spicy.
Warm year; ripe and generous wines.
Excellent; powerful and structured.
Rain at harvest affected many; strict selection needed.
Very good; returned to elegance and balance.
Heatwave. Wines are cooked, jammy, and low acid. Drink up.
Disastrous. "The Black Year." Rain and rot. Most producers declassified.
Classic. Cooler than 2000. Wines are elegant, structured, and precise.
Superb. Hot year. Massive, dark, fleshy wines. A great Valentini vintage.
1990s
Good, but variable rain.
Very good; often overlooked, but classic and balanced.
Historic. Hot and dry. Lush, fruit-forward wines that put Abruzzo on the global radar.
Good; cool year, fresh wines.
Excellent; hail reduced quantity, but quality was high.
Average; hot but sometimes dry tannins.
Very good; classic style.
Rainy and diluted.
Good, but lighter than '90.
Legendary. Perfect conditions. The wines have incredible depth and power.
1980s
Difficult; rain hampered harvest.
Very good; cool, late harvest. Elegant and aromatic.
Rainy and difficult.
Good, reliable vintage.
Exceptional. Hot, solar vintage. Wines are massive, opulent, and unkillable.
Poor. Cold and wet.
Excellent; widely celebrated across Italy.
Very good; ripe and sunny.
Average.
Good; cool year, leaner wines.
1970s
Superb. A legendary year for Valentini. Complex, deep, and savory.
Good but overshadowed by '77 and '79.
Excellent structure; cool and classic.
Rainy harvest.
Very good; warm and consistent.
Historic. Often cited as the greatest vintage for Emidio Pepe. Immortal wines.
Massive crop, average concentration.
Poor. Cold and wet. Avoid.
Good, but variable.
Excellent. Powerful wines with great aging potential (Pepe '70 is famous).
1960s
Average quality.
Rainy/Poor.
Very good; ripe and healthy grapes.
Good, better than in Tuscany.
Average.
Legendary. Emidio Pepe's first vintage. Perfect balance and longevity.
Rainy and diluted.
Good, standard vintage.
Excellent.
Wet and challenging.
1950s
Superb. Powerful and ripe.
Very good structure.
Good recovery year.
Frost. Historic freeze destroyed many vineyards. Replanting followed.
Excellent. A standout year in Italy; ripe and structured.
Wet and difficult.
Good balance.
Average.
Very good quality for the era.
Decent, mostly for local consumption.
1940s
Average quality.
Difficult, rainy year.
Iconic. Hot and dry. Produced massive, concentrated wines.
Good vintage, but overshadowed by the giants of '45 and '47.
Legendary. Post-war benchmark. Dark, powerful wines, though virtually none exist today.
