With a home on the central east coast of Italy, the Abruzzo region is home to the Montepulciano grape (not to be confused with the region of Montepulciano in Tuscany!). It is here that the variety really thrives and Illuminati's Pieluni Riserva shows wonderful deep, brooding and intense aromas and flavours of ripe plums, tobacco and blackcurrant. Delectable chocolate tannins round out a truly decadent wine.

Colour: intense red ruby, dark, almost impenetrable. Nose: reminiscent of blackberries, plums, raspberries and then, amazing is its persuasiveness with hints of vanilla, tobacco, liquorice; greatly structured in its aromas.

Flavour: the balance between mellowness and tannins is such that it shows perfect and clean flavour of harmony. It is a wine of structure, very rich, round, fleshy, and of great volume on the palate, elegant.

2007 vintage - 91 points - Wine Enthusiast