"A Wine Without Fuss bottle - the blurb said it would stand up to tomatoes. it did! Chicken Parmigiana, recipe by Gary Townsend in 6/2/21 Herald magazine (he's the head chef at One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow by the way). A really lovely pairing."

I would recommend this wine

"Wow - this is a perfectly balanced wine. As given, cherry and strawberry flavours with just a hint of sweetness. good value "

I would recommend this wine

"Great fruit, but lighter than I expected - definitely on my list to re-purchase."

I would recommend this wine

"If you want to slosh down a red with an Italian meal but also want that red to be a pleasure to drink, this is your bottle. "

I would recommend this wine

"Smooth nice all round wine, goes with multiple dishes. Doesn’t need to breathe much before drinking "

"A very good value wine with a degree of complexity, delicious sour cherry and strawberry, with no ‘rough edges’ An excellent companion to Sunday evening pasta. "

I would recommend this wine

"Rounded sweet and sour fruits, leathery and smoky. Mixed opinions this end!"

I would recommend this wine

"My bottle was pettilante, tart, but with a lingering sweetness. Very much ok. Not great."

"Completely agree with the review that said it’s surprisingly light. I’ve had rough Montepulciano at higher prices, and this is on my repeat list. Recommend. "

I would recommend this wine

"Better than many much more expensive wines."

I would recommend this wine

"Nice, fruity, liquorice, dry"

"Surprisingly quite light for a Montepulciano, red fruits - strawberry and cherry. Very enjoyable wine, that improves with breathing. Would be ideal at a barbecue. Great at the price"

I would recommend this wine

"Straight-forward, competently made wine. I agree with the other reviewers."

I would recommend this wine

"Another Wine society winner. Don’t mistake this beauty for the red battery acid pushed by pizzarias; this is a perfectly balanced full bodied red. I get hints of cloves; but understand the strawberry suggestion. Takes on tomato dishes in its stride as you’d expect; but I’d say is equally at home alongside a Sunday roast. Great value."

I would recommend this wine

"This is extremely good value. A very good Montepulciano for the price. Good fruit, just a hint of tannin slightly dry on the palate. We love it."

I would recommend this wine

"A well-rounded every-day drinking red that goes with meat, pasta, cheese and by itself. It is better quality than supermarket competitors and is priced competitively. The bottle starts well and continues in a rounded medium style, even if drunk over a 2-3 nights with an evening meal. "

I would recommend this wine

There are no press reviews for this product.

2018 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"A bit harsh for just supping, but really went well with roast beef and horseradish sauce , cutting right through with nice peppery tones"

Mr Andrew Swann (26-Jul-2020)

"Bought as part of a mix red wine case. Party of four tasters gave it an average of 7/10. At this price point I would buy again."

David C Westoby Esq (24-Jul-2020)

"I had thought to buy this wine but first could I ask Mr. Sammy Mansourpour why with a good review and a tick for recommendation he then only awards two stars! Perverse or a hidden message maybe? "

Dr Christopher J Bennett (15-Jul-2020)

"A solid but not great Montepulciano. Good colour and cherry flavour that went well with a robust meat pasta dish. Worth a try. "

Mr Hugh Mulligan (17-Jun-2020)

"Nice balance to this wine. Often I find equivalent supermarket wines a bit meh. This was nice enough to enjoy in its own or with some food. Berry flavours and medium finish. "

Mr Graham Gibson (09-Jun-2020)

"I've been buying this for as long as I can remember. It has lovely flavour and is great with any pasta, stir fries or even pizza, as well for simply quaffing. Moreover, it's excellent value."

Mr Alan R James (28-May-2020)

"Ordered a case to help the family through lockdown. As my daughter’s Italian boyfriend is staying with us, and he knows his wines, this became a bit of a test for both me and The Wine Society. I’m pleased to say we both passed with flying colours. It’s lighter than I thought it would be, but can compete with one of Luigi’s robust Italian dishes. Great value. "

Mr Brendan Sarsfield (08-May-2020)

"Following my last review, I need to add that, whatever happened to the chewing-gum on the bedpost, this wine does not lose its flavour overnight. Another point in its favour."

Dr Christopher Currie (12-Feb-2020)

"Picked up a bottle in the Showroom, and I'm very pleased with it. Flower-and-fruit nose; certainly not too dry - if anything it errs more on the fruity side. Tannins not excessive, good acidity; pleasant and lasting finish. But just very moreish and good value!"

Dr Christopher Currie (11-Feb-2020)

"I enjoy an Italian red wine with a pasta and this reasonably priced Montepulciano hit the mark. Smoother and more rounded than I had expected. Usually add a couple of bottles to my wine order."

Dr David Bryson (27-Jan-2020)

"This is very good value. A lovely Montepulciano with a delightful little fizz on the palate. "

Mr Adam Blake (24-Jan-2020)

"Was pretty pleased it came with a mixed red box as I probably wouldn’t have picked it to try. It’s full body and rich finish is bursting with berry flavour. I’m not sure I’d revisit in the short term but it made a welcome diversion from my usual picks of Amarone and meaty Bordeaux."

Mr Sammy Mansourpour (07-Jan-2020)

"Pleasant, Easy drinking red. Very smooth. Good value at £7.25. "

Mr Andy Friend (22-Dec-2019)

"Dry and cloying. We did not enjoy this one at all and would not buy it again. It's being used up in the spaghetti bolognaise and lasagne."

Mrs Susan Dickinson (18-Oct-2019)

"This is another wine we bought a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed. We have reordered it. We are a fan of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and this one didn't disappoint, soft and fruity. I would recommend this wine if you are a fan of Italian reds."

Michael D Brown Esq (31-Aug-2019)

2017 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"Good with italian food and good value . Drink at room temp - so often forgotten -also you must like tannins."

Dr John Cruickshank (22-Jan-2020)

"Very nearly went down the drain, on opening rough and acidic, almost off. But after a few hours in a decanter it became soft and fruity, albeit with grippy tannins, cacao and something small and furry. I marvel in wines that open up like this, and it is a classic old school wine society bang for buck wine as such. The end product, with time and air, is a savoury 3*,"

Mr Dominic White (07-Dec-2019)

"Wow, this really is a cracking bottle of wine. Opened it at 10 a.m. & poured it into a jug when the nose was dominated by fizzy cherry sherbet. Left it until 6 p.m. when the nose had morphed to a more floral aroma of violets & roses. The wine had a lovely balance of fruit, cherries & blackcurrants, and tannin & acidity. I can understand a previous reviewer’s comment re having a cellar full of first growths but enjoying this as his midweek tipple. Sadly I don’t have such a cellar, mine holds Bordeaux in the £15 to £25 price range, but like these this hits that wonderful finesse, poise & balance. Probably the best budget I've had from the Society to date."

Mr David Kear (06-Nov-2019)

"Very good."

Mrs Lilian Goldberg (02-Nov-2019)

"Its a decent wine and the first of its kind I have tasted. We enjoyed it, but felt it lacking depth and body. As its a "society" wine and priced well maybe this is just what you get for the price. I would like to try a better one to compare. From other comments it seems to need hours to mature, who opens bottles 3 hours before drinking?"

Mr Anthony Johnson (21-Oct-2019)

"Uncork a few hours before drinking then it is easy to drink a lot ! "

Mr Nigel Meadows (22-Jul-2019)

"Great wine as it has always been. Heavy on taste with great aftertaste. Goes well with pasta or meats"

Mr Ian W Keeling (17-Jul-2019)

"Definitely needs two hours or more to open up. After that a decent wine. "

Mr Simon Bourke (30-Jun-2019)

"I wouldn't bother - buy a Casillero Diablo from the supermarket for £6"

Mr Anthony R Peel (30-Jun-2019)

"First time I've ordered a full case of a WS wine following a few sample bottles. Wonderful easy-drinking mid-week Italian red. Cellar full of first growth clarets but after a weekend on call - this is my go-to evening drink! At this price point, what's not to like? what more can I say.."

Dr Michael Margarson (08-Apr-2019)

"I opened this a couple of hours before drinking as recommended and enjoyed it so much I ordered a second case. It was full, juicy and well rounded. An ideal house wine. And at the reduced price of £6.41 a bottle, stockpiling fresh supplies was irresistible."

Mr Paul Cheshire (05-Feb-2019)

" A little disappointing with a harsh edge to it."

Mr Rory Pogson (28-Dec-2018)

2017 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS

The Mail on Sunday (24th Nov 2019)

"… soft, juicy, easy-drinking ... Best buy Montepulciano. - Olly Smith"

The Mail on Sunday (10th Mar 2019)

"Fragrant and firm. Decant this keenly priced red to impress dinner guests. - Olly Smith"

2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"My 'any day' red all the year round, particularly on it's own with some lights snacks. It's easy drinking with cherry and plumb undertones and ticks all the boxes for an utterly reliable quaffable red. Excellent value- -for-money and I agree with other members on the quality of the 2016 vintage. It's a pleasure to drink and would stand its ground against more expensive wines. A user-friendly screw top would be so much easier. It'll be on the next order."

Mr Nick Hutton (31-Dec-2018)

"Great with pizza or tomato-based pasta dishes, this fruity Italian doesn't set the world on fire, but offers pleasant flavours and great value for money. Cherries, blueberries and blackberries provide a fruit basket on the palate. Not too acidic with a decent aftertaste."

Mr Addam Merali-Hosiene (22-Dec-2018)

"New member exploring TWS wines. This is OK, on my reserve list but not the first Italian I’d put in the basket. That would be the TWS Barbera d’Asti."

Mr Graham Tree (09-Nov-2018)

Mr Heiko Langer (08-Oct-2018)

"Lovely, very easy-drinking montepulciano. Excellent value for money."

Miss Sally Brown (15-Sep-2018)

"Been drinking this since the 2004 vintage, can't think of having pasta with a bottle of this. I suppose it anywine is our 'house' wine this is it, and as we have pasta most weeks we get through cases of it. Now on the 2016 vintage and it just gets better. Throws a deposit after a while. - Inexpensive, gluggable cherry fruit flavours with enough structure for food, but nice on its own. QPR earns it 5 stars. About time they moved to a decent user friendly screwcap rather than a plastic plug"

Mr Peter May (30-Jun-2018)

"This started out an easy drinking mouthful but then changed to a typical Italian tart cherry bitterness. Day 2 it had changed again becoming more full bodied. I did not decant but would be interested to what effect it would have had."

Mr John G Bowen (28-Jun-2018)

"What a really good bottle of wine! Black cherry and relatively light bodied. You're not going to sing hymns about this one; it's not got the complexity that has you sipping again to sift through the taste layers; rather, what it's got is simple, fruity and rather delicious with pasta on a Tuesday night. (Precisely the sort of wine that is great when unadulterated by oak as this is, but too often gets soaked in oak in a mistaken effort to look sophisticated.) Highly recommended."

Rev Robert Stanier (18-Apr-2018)

"A lovely wine that rather grew on me. Very soft tannins allow an uncomplicated juiciness to shine, almost like fresh red grapes, but after a few seconds in the mouth the profile totally changes, to a rich, dark chocolate bitterness that lingers impressively on the finish. Perhaps I imagined it, but there seemed to be the faintest suggestion of spritz on the tongue. I drank it without food and it didn't feel overpowering. All in all, good stuff!"

Mr Maximilian Yuen (16-Apr-2018)

"Very impressed. Great value. Well balanced with lots of fruit"

Mr Tom Rodger (22-Oct-2017)

"Really like the 2016 vintage, best since the superb 2013 for me. Delicious full flavoured rustic wine that’s a real uncomplicated pleasure to drink and has hints of the polish and purity of something more expensive. As it says on the back label it really benefits from opening a few hours in advance or popping through one of those wine airing gadgets."

Mr Jonathan Rippon (19-Oct-2017)

"I tried this wine a few years ago and wasn't impressed. Tried it again last week and still don't think it is that good.It's ok with food but I think there are better wines than this for less money."

Mr Gary K Leek (25-Sep-2017)

"Good value everyday red, which shows at its best with food. Well suited to a variety of pasta dishes and stands up well to strong flavours. Probably a 3 star wine but gets an extra star for the reasonable price."

Mr Bob White (23-Sep-2017)

2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"Fruity and rounded with a dry finish. Very enjoyable with lasagne and improved the next day. Not a showstopper but great for your mid-week pasta."

Mr Callum Montgomery (18-Jul-2017)

"I first tasted this as part of a mixed case and thought it one of the best Montepulciano's I had sampled, a steal at the price. I then ordered a full case and the first bottle opened was a little disappointing on it's own, needing the pasta dish that accompanied it for support. The second bottle some days later seemed to be better, having had a little time to rest after delivery and benefitting from a couple of hours in the decanter. Still a little harsh with sharp tannins for the first mouthful or two but then settling down. A flexible wine that still works best with food but also perfectly fine as a casual glass for slow sipping on its own, particularly if served slightly cooler than modern room temperatures. And at under £7 a bottle it is hard to argue against keeping a few of these on standby in the rack."

Mr Darren K L May (17-Jul-2017)

"There's a nice taste of plums in there, but and large it's too tanniny and too thick to be really enjoyable"

Mr Matthew Utting (04-Jun-2017)

"To start with a negative I can remember trying the 2015 for the first time after purchasing a U£7 Wine Champions case and not understanding what the fuss was about. Ordered half a dozen bottles again recently and have done a complete 180 on this wine. Very fresh and fruity and great midweek either its own or with a hearty pasta dish. Another great sub £7 wine which fits the midweek budget perfectly. "

Mr Simon Mountjoy (21-May-2017)

"To start with a negative I can remember trying the 2015 for the first time after purchasing a U£7 Wine Champions case and not understanding what the fuss was about. Ordered half a dozen bottles again recently and have done a complete 180 on this wine. Very fresh and fruity and great midweek either its own or with a hearty pasta dish. Another great sub £7 wine which fits the midweek budget perfectly. "

Mr Simon Mountjoy (21-May-2017)

"A worthy wine champion. Lots of soft fruit, easy drinking on its own or with pasta. Not demanding or complex, simple everyday wine - a bargain at the price. We've already had to re-order!"

Mr Graham Horsley (26-Apr-2017)

"I find the 2015 nice enough but not as good as the 2014 or a patch on the remarkable 2013. Looking forward to trying the 2016 and crossing my fingers it's not a downward slope."

Mr Jonathan Rippon (18-Feb-2017)

"For the price excellent value, think it is more 3.5 stars though. Would definaltely order again."

Mr Gordon Allan (28-Dec-2016)

"While there's not much on the nose, in the mouth there are lovely concentrated black fruit flavours and - for the price - decent length. A good effort for the price."

Mr Rory Bremner (08-Dec-2016)

"Best Italian red under £8, bar none !"

Mr Alex Jones (08-Nov-2016)

Mr Iain Harkess (17-Aug-2016)

Mr Robert Hudson (12-Aug-2016)

"Wine champion status not in keeping with my experience. Good aroma and fruit but spoilt for me by sharp acidic finish."

Mr Richard Ward (11-Aug-2016)

"Superb. This one's a regular order for me."

Mr Richard Smith (11-Aug-2016)

"Much riper, softer, more satisfying than I was expecting. Delighted."

Rev Jeremy Sierla (11-Aug-2016)

"Decent wine at a decent price, easy drinking medium bodied wine."

Mr William Baxter (29-Jul-2016)

"Fresh and fruity, this young red hits two spots for me, one it's enjoyable on its own or as an aperitif, two it's goes well with meaty dishes like shepherd's pie. I must say that it's excellent value, I will be ordering more. I'm told it is likely to improve with age, but I don't anticipate that it will stay around too long in my house."

Mr Tom Bulley (27-Jul-2016)

"2015 is a good vintage of this - happy to pick up a bottle from the "Champions" list for holiday drinking."

Mr Tristan Ward (23-Jul-2016)

2015 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS

Manchester Evening News (28th Jan 2017)

"This outstanding example of its type is a steal at less than £7. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of the wines I consistently turn to for meaty pasta dishes, but it will also pair wonderfully well with bangers and mash and cottage pie. Made by co-operative Casa Vinicola Roxan, this one in brilliant value with fragrant ripe fruit which finishes with a dry note. It may not be a 'dinner party wine', but it's exactly the type of reliable wine that's needed in my kitchen. - Andy Cronshaw"

2014 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"For the money, has to be 5 stars IMO"

Mr Martin Wingate (11-Aug-2016)

"Enjoyed this wine a lot - a young easy drinking Italian red. Would buy again."

Mr Bryn Jones (20-May-2016)

"Brilliant budget everyday wine. Nice and juicy without being too sweet. A bit of savouriness as well. Would buy again."

Mr Jason Mossman (15-Jan-2016)

"Excellent value and a well balanced wine. Put this one on the rack for next year as the 2013 is appreciably fuller after the extra time in bottle."

Mr Peter Wooldridge (05-Oct-2015)

"One of the best value for money wines I've had. Not just from The Society but anywhere. Not much to add to the other positive review. Really enjoyable to drink."

Mr Martin Wingate (12-Sep-2015)

2013 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"Once tried you will want to keep a few bottles for drinking at any time."

Mr Anthony R C Lane (17-Aug-2016)

"Tasted this against the 2014 and found it much more developed given the extra year in bottle. Buy this to drink now and buy the 2014 to go on the rack until next year. Terrific value for money and only 50p more expensive that the 2014."

Mr Peter Wooldridge (05-Oct-2015)

"This one went straight in the cooking pot. Bright purple, very acidic, no length."

Mr David Bricknell (23-May-2015)

"Very good example of every day uncomplicated Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Excellent with pasta with lamb based sauces or bbq. Keep reordering."

Mr Andrea Capodicasa (05-Apr-2015)

"Bought a case of Tim Sykes -What to drink in 2015 and included was a bottle of The Society's Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2012, yes 2012. Thought it a bit odd as the reviews for the 2013 are good and, being a subscriber to the Wine Gang, who rated the 2013 as pretty good was surprised to receive the 2012. Tried it with a little supper of delightful leg of lamb but sadly it was pretty dull, dusty, slightly medicinal and boring. Perhaps the Society needed to get shot of the last of the 2012 and added it to the Tim Sykes case as a makeweight. Whatever the reason it left a bad taste."

Mr Jeffrey Kelly (23-Mar-2015)

"Perfectly accompanied our pasta with meat sauce and tasted even better the following day. Infernally difficult to open the bottle though."

Kevin Finn Esq (06-Mar-2015)

"A cracking wine for the money! Decanted an hour and a half before serving. Will be buying more."

Mr Adrian French (03-Mar-2015)

"Very good value. Full of fruit flavour but also has depth and body and a lovely colour. Like so many reds it is better opened well before drinking and on the second day is at its best. I will certainly buy more of this and my other current favourite. St Eulalie from Minervois."

Mr Peter J H Devlin (21-Feb-2015)

"The 2013 reminds me of why I used to like this wine so much. Right back on form. A strong flavour filled wine that slips down a storm with gutsy food."

Mr Jonathan Rippon (30-Jan-2015)

"One of our house regulars, marred only by the fact that the corks are almost impossible to remove from the corkscrew once the opening deed is done! This has consistently been the case for some years now since the synthetic corks came in. Come on please Wine Society..surely you can persuade them to make the task easier?!"

Mr Bruce A Eggeling (25-Nov-2014)

"Excellent value for money - the right balance of fruit and tannin-backed body. However, a key point: OPEN WELL BEFORE DRINKING. There are similar comments in the other reviews - pull the cork and drink immediately and it is a bit rough. The second glass will be better. I am drinking the second half of the bottle on day 2 and it is now stunning! Worth a lot more than the £6.75 it is priced at."

Peter J Hunter Johnston (23-Oct-2014)

"This was a real flavour experience. We served it at room temperature having left it opened for a short while before pouring. Our group were all very impressed, both by the rich fruitiness of the wine and by the price. A real hit - I'll certainly be ordering more! "

Mr James E Hellewell (13-May-2014)

"This Montepulciano is very jammy and unexciting. No complexity to it. If you are looking for a good value everyday drinking wine, The Society has much better options in its Rioja and Cotes du Rhone."

Mrs Linda Walton (28-Feb-2014)

"From the reviews, previous vintages have been better than the 2012 which I just drank. I will admit I was expecting more from the wine because of the Society's reputation as well as that of the co-operative that produces it. The weight was there, as was depth of tannin, but the fruit was lacking in the middle of the palate."

Mr John Lamond (07-Jan-2014)

"I bought a case (12bt) of the 2010 a couple of years ago and have drunk it with pleasure occasionally since. I opened a bottle a couple of days ago and found my first glass quite harsh. However, my second glass a day later was hugely better and today it is better still. In other words, this wine needs quite a bit of time to breathe. I have 3 bottles left, so will make sure I open them several hours (at least) before drinking and in any case within the next several months. Just about to order the 2012."

Mr William Cameron (09-Nov-2013)

"I agree with Peter May's comments below and on the advice of my parents have always set this aside, and cellared it properly. The last of my 2008(!) vintage I opened last night had suffered and was indeed now "fizzy", but then it is well beyond reasonable shelf life and had spent too long upright in less than ideal conditions, as this was the last vintage to use cork. That went down the sink, and so I then opened a bottle of 2009. This had thrown less sediment than I have been used to with this wine and is with the "new" artificial seal. Was good to very good once decanted and left to air for an hour. Has mellowed a little but still suitably powerful and a good match to the Osso Bucco I had it with. I can not comment on recent vintages including the recent Champion vintage, but would state this improves with proper cellaring if you can. If not, decant carefully well in advance would be my advice."

Dr Christopher Wood (09-Oct-2013)

"I am no expert in Italian wines, but this deeply-coloured and rich Montepulciano is a brilliant match for rich Italian food. In no way insubstantial, it has lovely sweet fruit which should make it approachable to those who normally don't care for red wine. This is a cut above the average supermarket effort but at a really good price for the quality."

Dr Robin W D Mitchell (17-Sep-2013)

"Nice fruity wine with black cherry and blackberries flavours. If you want to drink it on it's own it probably needs at least a couple of hours in a wide decanter, but with rich foods it's ready to drink from the bottle - probably still best to decant though. I had this one with a rich Bolognese which made a great match."

Mr Barry Smith (01-Jun-2013)

"Recent vintage does not have the savoury black cherry grip of those previous. Usually a staple house wine but not at present."

Mr Nigel Ludlow (24-Mar-2013)

"Very ordinary; worth leaving to breathe overnight. Not very good and I wouldn't purchase it again (luckily it was a sample bottle)."

Mr Kenneth Allinson (24-Feb-2013)

"A really good, dependable, wine which is good value. We have never had the problems reported by a couple of people recently and also do not think it is 'thin'. It is a wine we always try to have in the rack."

Mr Robert C Lane CBE (31-Jan-2013)

"Colour is a dense, purple-red; the nose has obvious cherry notes and exhibits a light fruit. The palate is dry with light tannins and medium length. Pleasant if unspectacular."

Mr Geoffrey Bolton (02-Jan-2013)

"Opened this bottle of wine on Christmas Day, it had a fizz! The palate was harsh and totally unpalatable. It ended up down the sink! Not sure if it was a faulty bottle? The worst bottle of wine I have experienced from the Wine Society."

Mr Malcolm J Davies (31-Dec-2012)

"Good value easy drinking red and at a good price."

Mr Philip Merrin (17-Aug-2012)

"Very average really. At the price you'd expect an ok quaff, but I think I'll search for another Monte on the next order."

Mr Richard Morton (26-Feb-2012)

"One of my first purchases from The Wine Society. Opened first bottle and very disappointed. The wine had a fizz on the palate and lacked depth. Not what I expected from the Society. Maybe a bad bottle, will comment again when I open the second."

Mr Michael Billington (26-Dec-2011)

"Our House red. An excellent easy drinking wine with a whiff of character. Consistently good and excellent value for money. Nothing else needs saying really!"

Mr Andrew N Tomkins (11-Aug-2011)

"Easy drinking, fruity Italian red - exactly what I would expect for this varietal at this price point. Not spectacular but a good quaffer, especially with Italian food (went very well with pasta with a meatball and tomato sauce). Tannins are quite strong making it taste rather dry so it is better drunk with food."

Mr James Maylam (03-Jun-2011)

"Good colour, we bought this as part of a case of Society Reds. We had this with Italian chicken ciccatora & risotto which was a good accompaniment. We thought it had good body for wine that was medium bodied. Enjoyable with a longer spicier finish than we intially imagined. We were pleased and surprised. Easy to drink, and an every day wine. If that's what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed."

Dr Aref Dyer (15-May-2011)

"Cherry-based fun for all the family from this quaffable little chappie. Medium bodied, fruity, nice acidity and some pleasant tannins on the back end. This is all you could ask for in an inexpensive Italian red. Bravo The Wine Society!"

Mr William Davies (11-Apr-2011)

"We have bought a case on the strength of everybody's comments, plus of course the WS description. We're not yet persuaded. First bottle had slightly peculiar sealing - cork present but mysterious hole as if corkscrew already inserted, although foil was intact! Perhaps we opened the wine too soon after delivery and didn't let it stand long enough (though we did decant it, contrary to our usual practice). There was some nose; the wine itself, however, was 'hot' (is that a description that anyone recognises?). Second bottle - allowed to stand for two hours plus - was better. Third, similarly treated, not as good as the second. We think the wine is 'underpowered' and better value - by some margin - is to be had among some of the similarly priced Chilean, French ('country'), and Spanish offerings. But we will selflessly persevere."

Mr John L Moles (28-Sep-2010)

"Beautifully made fruit driven wine still retaining its old world style. Able to accompany bold spicy meaty meals and yet the moderate tannin levels make the wine very drinkable. Shows what can be achieved by allowing the right amount of skin contact and knowlegeable winemakers. Leaving the wine to settle for a year might smooth off the rustic edges making it even better value for money."

Mr Chris Barclay (15-Aug-2010)

"To my surprise this is our most drunk wine -- it is so reliable, so fruitily quaffable and it is our now standard wine for pasta dishes. I used to get mixed cases of red Italians but we always preferred this and for past years just order it by the case. No need to look further, lovely stuff at a good price. Noticed drinking through a case how it pleasantly ages -- losing edges and gaining smoothness and complexity while throwing down sediment -- not expected in a wine in this price bracket so now I'm saving the last couple of bottles from the previous vintage to see just how long it improves. Well done TWS for your partnership with Roxan and for ensuring they keep the quality up from year to year."

Mr Peter May (29-Jun-2010)

"I treat this as our house wine, it surprises me every time just how good it is. Fantastic value."

Mr Peter Martin (06-May-2010)

"I am surprised that this wine did not appear in Mr Spurrier's top 30; it must be one of the best value Italian reds on the market and no Montepulciano I have tasted has approached it. I have been drinking it for over five years now and the quality has improved from a very sound base. Strongly recommended."

Bernard T Hawcroft Esq (07-Mar-2010)

"My first impression on opening this wine bottle was one of extreme disappointment.I cut the foil and discovered that the bottle was corkless*. Fortunately, I had ordered another bottle of this which did have a cork. Hurrah! In summary, a very enjoyable drink. I am new to this grape and was very impressed. A very easy drinking wine. Bags of fruit - cherries and blackberries - and very smooth. As recommended on the label, I left the bottle for a few hours to let the flavours unpack. For a co-operative wine this really is excellent. (* I called the Wine Society and told them about my corkless problem. This had also been reported by another member. My account was credited with the amount I paid for wine, rather than despatching a replacement which is what I would have expected.)"

Mr James Fallon (03-Nov-2009)

"A really fruity, quaffable wine of consistent quality at a very reasonable price."

Mr Jack Hasdell (07-Sep-2009)

2013 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS

Daily Mail (22nd Aug 2015)

"Bargain-priced, stuffed with red berry fruit and also smooth and easy to glug, this is a wickedly enticing central Italian red with serious levels of flair and energy. Drinking perfectly right now, this is a cracking all-purpose red for entertaining. - Matthew Jukes"

The Wine Gang (Mar 2013)

"As deep coloured as Montepulciano should be and with ripe blackberry fruit, smoky, liquoricey flavours, velvety tannins and attractive freshness. A good mouthful of flavour and authenticity for a small outlay. Made by the Roxan co-operative. Goes with: Barbecues, Charcuterie and cold meats, Pasta & Risotto."

House & Garden (2nd Feb 2013)

"Full, spicy red from … Italy to cut the richness of the meat and stand up to the clove-infused onion. - Joanna Simon"

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