Rubiro Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is (from what I can tell) a second label from Villa Cervia where oenologist Rino Moretti has been producing wine since 1989.

This would be a good choice if you want a red wine that’s not too aggressive.  It’s approachable and soft in every way, making it easy to pair with a variety of foods. 

The nose is rather subtle but has aromas of plum, cherry and a wee bit of barnyard (not in a bad way).  The palate is very soft and a bit short of concentration.  It’s mostly just plum and a bit of earth.  The tannins are also soft, but prevalent enough to give a full mouth feel.  There is a hint of spice in this one too, but again it is very subtle.  When I first opened the bottle it had a touch of effervescence, but it quickly went away with decanting.

Overall this is a pretty good wine that is a bit softer than some of the others I’ve tried in this varietal.  It would pair nicely with a bowl of pasta, pizza, cheese or a number of other foods.  As I mentioned, this one is quite food-friendly.  I found it for $13.99 and it earned a score of 85.

Wine: Rubiro
Varietal: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol: 13% 
Rating: 85
Price Paid: $13.99