Reviews & Ratings
2023 Raffaldini Red Blends or Varietals "Montepulciano Riserva"
Winery: Raffaldini
Vintage: 2023
Wine Name/Vineyard: "Montepulciano Riserva"
Wine Category: Red Blends or Varietals
Grape blend: 85% Montepulciano, 10% Petit Verdot & 5% Sagrantino
Bottle size: 750 ml
Region: Swan Creek
State or country: NC
Price: $37
Cases produced: 600
KWG Score: 91 (based on 1 review)
Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (91)
Review date: October 21, 2026
Wine Review: This clear and dark red colored Montepulciano from Raffaldini in North Carolina is very good. It opens with a black cherry and cedar bouquet with hints of black currant. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with integrated plus acidity. The mouthfeel is balanced, round, savory, and zesty. The flavor profile is an anise and black cherry blend with notes of spice drop and blackberry. I also detected hints of oak, cinnamon, and minerality. The finish is dry, and its flavors, acidity, and moderate refined tannins show very nice length. I would pair this Montepulciano with a Tuscan veal chop. Enjoy - Ken
Winemaker Notes: Our largest planting on the property, this grapes hails from the Province of Abruzzo which lies east of Rome. The Montepulciano grape tends to make wine that are most similar in profile to Merlot. It is juicy with ripe and rich fruit framed by lively acidity and soft tannins. This wine has intense black and blue fruits that explode in the glass, and the finish is long, luxurious, and full. The color is dark from the rim to the core and while it exudes fruitfulness. It also exhibits that dustiness that is such a part of Italian wines. This is a Montepulciano that can easily be enjoyed for another ten years. Dark brooding with powerful fruit and finish.
