Label says - 'La Francese' is the locals' nickname for Gaetane Carron, the French winemaker who charmed the growers in Abruzzo into giving her their very best Montepulciano grapes.

Mme Carron may need more than her Gallic charm to get her hands on their best grapes in future years. This isn't a bad wine, it's simply that it has yet to become a good wine. It's very dry and tannic, after a day it opened up a bit but I had expected a soft and fruity red that was ready for drinking now.

Label says it will continue to improve for a further 3 years, problem is I can't envisage why I might be dusting this off in three years time when there are so many safer bets (and better wines) for cellaring.