OK, after me. Mon – tuh – pull – cha – noh. (Hold the ‘a’ in ‘cha’ for effect, and to convince everyone you’ve a true grasp of the lingo.)

Now, dah – broots – oh.

As Italy’s number one DOC export, it’s probably one of the most recognisable old world wines there is, but it is a bit of a mouthful.

The ‘Montepulciano’ bit is both a grape and a small town in southern Tuscany, the ‘Abruzzo’ the mountainous region extending to the Adriatic across the middle of Italy.

Montepulciano the grape is a prolific red variety, notable for producing two distinct styles of wine – one, a light-to-medium fruity style designed for drinking young (exactly like our Farnese DOC), and the other a more austere, deep coloured wine with ripe, robust tannins (exactly like our Farnese DOCG).

At its worst, Montepulciano makes a great blending wine, and is a permitted variety in 20 of Italy’s 95 provinces. At its best, in particular in the Abruzzo, it produces wines rich in local character and flavours, from wild fruit, to herbs, to gamey influences.

To address issues of over-production and inconsistency, 2003 saw the introduction of Abruzzo’s first DOCG – the higher level regulation on wine production, standing for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita – for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane, for Montepulciano grown in the optimal hillside sites around Teramo in northern Abruzzo. Farnese’s DOCG is a testament to this intent, acclaimed by Robert Parker as “one to buy by the car-load”.

Abruzzo is a hot-bed of tradition and great cuisine, and is famed for its strong flavours and use of spice in its cured meats and recipes. The mountainous terrain makes lamb the meat of choice, and pecorino, from sheep’s milk, the favoured cheese. Peperoncino, a hot chilli pepper, is a local favourite and a key ingredient in agnello all’arrabbiata or ‘angry lamb’.

This array of rich and spicy food suit our Montepulcianos to perfection. Acidity, spice, fruitiness and soft tannins that just melt with a forkful of lamb or a slice of pecorino.

So next time you go Italian, look beyond the Chianti and try a mouthful of Dah-broots-oh.

Farnese’s Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC is a Curious Pick for March – buy two for €8.49 each, saving €3.

Putting our money where our mouths are once again, we’re introducing another way of extending your wine adventures and discovering new delights, without breaking the bank.

Curious Picks are my personal recommendations on wines to try from the Curious cellar, each with a 100% genuine discount aimed unashamedly at tempting wine fans, in the full confidence that they’ll be back for more once they’ve tried it. This is the spirit of the Price Promise I penned before we’d sold a bottle, and which we will continue to champion at every opportunity.

Every Curious Pick will be selected on one or more of the following criteria:

• Exceptional quality-to-price ratio: the only way to compare an everyday glugging Chardonnay with a Premier Cru Chablis – does the wine represent good value at it’s retail price point
• An exceptional example of a particular grape, region or style
• A sheer, out-and-out curiosity: you know, those wines that make you go, “wow, I’ve never tasted anything like that before” (but in a good way!).

So, onto the important stuff, my first six Curious Picks:

Farnese Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: one of the wines selected for our Battle of the Recession Busters April contest. Stunning example of great Montepulciano for under a tenner. Light bodied, packed with luscious red fruit, soft spice and lovely balanced acidity. Normally €9.99, buy two for €8.49 each.

Heartland Stickleback Red: the superbly priced entry red from the inimitable Ben Glaetzer, a rich and succulent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Shiraz. Normally €11.99, buy two for €9.99 each.

Tussock Sauvignon Blanc: Nelson’s a stone’s throw from Marlborough and is currently producing Sauvignons that Marlborough are now struggling to with the volume demands. Ripe tropical fruit and great balance make this a great buy at the regular €12.99, get two for only €10.99 each.

Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling: I’d been looking for a good value, attractively packaged German Riesling, and was over-the-moon on finding this. It’s medium-dry with crisp acidity to balance, and absolutely bursting with green apple, pear, apricot and spice. Great value at €12.99, buy two for €10.99 each.

Domaine Roland Betton Crozes Hermitage: one of those wines where my tasting notes seemed to never end. Classic Rhone rusticness, structurally superb, and amazing complexity – I got “menthol, cigar box, earthy, coffee, hints of leather and spice” before I’d had a taste! Normally €19.99, try it at €16.99 and be blown away.

Woodstock ‘The Stocks’ Shiraz 2004: a McLaren Vale icon from century-old vines, this is the wine that restored Lar Veale‘s faith in Shiraz! Big, black and bold, packed with flavour, complexity and exquisite balance, this isn’t for the faint-hearted. We really want people to try this wine so we’ve knocked a fiver off – normally €29.99, now €24.99.

We’re well stocked on all these wines but, as ever, all offers are while current stocks last, so get it quickly if something really grabs your fancy.

Happy exploring,

Mike, Chief Taster (yes, it is the best job in the world)