2024 Valentini Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 6-Pack in OCC

The 2022 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is entirely unexpected, tempting the imagination with a cascade of wild strawberries, dried citrus and roses, incense and crushed stone. It opens with a pleasant inner sweetness balanced by zesty acidity as crisp apple and autumnal spice collide with salty minerals and an almondy richness. The 2022 tapers off impossibly fresh yet still staining and long, leaving a flourish of raspberry and licorice that lingers on and on. This is next level Cerasuolo from a master. Wow. While there is not a new vintage of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo from the traditional house of Valentini this year, collectors will be happy to hear that there is a knock-out 2022 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. Francesco Valentini and his son Gabriele continue to set the bar very high, and as a result, they have chosen not to bottle their Montepulciano in 2020 or 2021, deciding instead to sell the wines in bulk. But have no fear about the Trebbiano, which has been able to cope much better with the effects of global warming. This year's release is from the 2019 vintage, a lower production yet cooler vintage (in relation to the last three years). The 2019 is classic Valentini in every possible way. It’s enjoyable today and guaranteed to send your eyes rolling back in your head but with the balance for a long evolution. As has been the case for years now, locating the wines in the market is still challenging. Don't pass up an opportunity to add these wines to your cellar. (EG)