Savour flavours of violet flower, blackcurrant and Cuban cigar tobacco in this Decanter medal-winning blend of French grapes.

This powerful and elegant wine is a fine example of what a premium estate in Abruzzo can achieve with a blend of signature French grapes (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot). Orlandi Contucci Ponno is among the finest wineries in Abruzzo, and was recently acquired by the famous and powerful Gussalli Beretta family.

The name “Liburnio” pays tribute to the ancient tribe of Liburni, who inhabited the lands of Abruzzo during antiquity. They were originally pirates from what is now Croatia, spending their days terrorising the Adriatic. In 156 BC their lands were conquered by Rome, and they settled in Abruzzo as farmers. Now their history is part of the local heritage.

The grapes are grown on Montepagano Hills, about 15 miles north of Pescara and 25 miles east of Gran Sasso d’Italia – the highest peak of the Apennines.  The vineyard has a southern exposure, which is important for these powerful grapes to develop lots of sugar and flavour.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested between the last week of September and the first week of October. After pressing, the wine ferments in stainless steel tanks for 12–15 days at a controlled temperature. Thanks to the extended contact with grape skins, the wine becomes darker and more concentrated. This Bordeaux-inspired blend is then aged for 18 months in small first-use oak barriques, which have their own strong flavour to match the depth of the wine. Finally, it’s bottled and left to integrate in Orlandi Contucci Ponno’s cellar for another year. This is longer than usual, but an essential step given the richness of the wine.

Tasting Notes

This dark ruby wine offers a bouquet of profound flavours, such as wild forest berries, violet flower, blueberry and blackcurrant. Those are complemented by notes of cedar, cloves, plum preserve, coconut and Cuban cigar tobacco.

Awards

Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 – Silver Medal (2015 vintage) | The WineHunter – Rosso (2015 vintage)