2008 Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Hello all!! I enjoyed this wine with Al several nights ago. We have had this wine before in earlier vintages. It is available locally at Ashes and McScrooges and probably at other liquor stores, and tends to cost about $20 a bottle. It had a very dark violet-ruby color. The nose started out as fairly tight, but it became more aromatic as it opened. There were aromas of violets, blueberry, plum and cherry. The flavor profile was true to the nose, with more cherry and vanilla developing as it opened. There was current and spice on the finish. This was not a big heavy wine, but had a light to medium body. It was interesting, and it became better as it opened, developing more spice on the finish and softer, smoother tannins. I liked this wine! It's a nice, honest wine with lots of personality. It would be very good with lighter Italian dishes prepared with mushrooms.