2024 Tenute Inverso "Anfora" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Let's start off by saying this is one of the most exciting, under-the-radar projects in Abruzzo right now. Tenute Inverso is a tiny, family-run discovery that produces an incredibly small amount of this wine—just around 2000 bottles. We are incredibly proud to have this as an exclusive gem. Often, Montepulciano can fall into the trap of being too heavy, overly extracted, or masked by aggressive oak. Tenute Inverso completely bypasses that. What makes this wine so singular is its aging method: it is fermented and aged entirely in clay anfore. By removing the influence of wood, the producer allows the pure, rugged terroir of the Abruzzo backcountry to speak for itself. In the 2024 vintage, the result is a wine that vibrates with nervous energy. The nose is a lively, high-toned blast of sour cherry and crushed amarena, woven with savory wild herbs, forest floor, and a distinct, smoky minerality. It feels alive and vertical, offering a refined, almost saline texture that only clay aging can impart. It is intensely savory, lacking any heavy, jammy weight, and finishes with a pure, mouthwatering grip. A steal at this price point.