One of the most exciting things about working in wine is being introduced to a new producer and then, in turn, introducing them to you — particularly when said new producer lives up to the hype. A few years ago, we were shown the wines from a tiny, new, organic Abruzzo estate, Amorotti, and we knew we had something special on our hands.

Amorotti’s owner/winemaker Gaetano Carboni is friends with, and lives next door to, the legendary Abruzzo producer Valentini. If you've ever been lucky enough to taste Valentini you'll surely recognize the stylistic influence they've had on Gaetano and his wines, and indeed, Valentini has recognized their quality and recommended the producer to US importers.

And while we think we can all agree that being Valentini's personal friend and neighbor is pretty cool (and an absolute dream for a burgeoning winemaker producing Montepulciano and Trebbiano), it certainly isn't the only reason to try Amorotti's wines.

His inaugural vintage was just a few years ago, in 2016, and already Gaetano's wines are deeply soulful and full of character and depth — something that, due to the massive amounts of cheap and uninspired wine produced by many of the commercial wineries in the region, isn't often said of the wines of the Abruzzo.

But producers like Amorotti, Valentini, and Emidio Pepe are challenging this narrative with gorgeous and complex expressions of Montepulciano and Trebbiano. If we were to try and personify Amorotti's wines they would undoubtedly be "sophisticated" and "wise beyond their years".

With 16 hectares under vine, Gaetano produces just 1,800 cases annually and sells off the rest of the fruit. In an ancient, labyrinthine cellar below the medieval town of Loreto Aprutino, all of the work is conducted in accordance with biodynamic and natural practices. The wines are raised in large wood barrels. Fermentations are spontaneous, with no temperature control.

The red is silky, bright, and layered with spice; the white teems with minerality, stone fruit, and crushed herbs. The Cerasuolo - that’s the darker Rosato made from Montepulciano that is the most classic of all Italian Rosatos – is perfectly refreshing, but with enough depth to make it truly interesting and place-specific. Gaetano really knocked it out of the park on his very first vintage, and the wines just continue to get better.

This is a great set of wines:

Amorotti Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2021 $49.99
"The 2021 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo is unique, with a beguiling blend of ground ginger, young peach and grapefruit. It opens with a lovely inner sweetness, silky and supple, with ripe yellow pit fruits underscored by saline minerals as candied citrus traces resonate throughout. This finishes remarkably fresh yet staining and long, echoing with nectarine and sour green apple. This is absolutely fantastic, showing a warm vintage character yet with incredible balance. It will be an exciting vintage to follow and at just 12.5% abv. 94pts" - Eric Guido (Vinous)

Amorotti Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 2021 $49.99
"The 2021 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is wickedly fresh and vibrant with a pale pink hue. It wafts up with an invigorating blend of young peach and orange sorbet accentuated by mint nuances. It flows easily across the palate, guided by brisk acidity as ripe strawberry fruit mingles with sweet spices and minerals. This leaves the palate reeling with youthful tension, puckering the cheeks with a citrus tinge and sour melon. There is so much complexity here. The 2021 is a rock star Cerasuolo.93+ pts" - Eric Guido (Vinous)

Amorotti Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2019 $53.99
"Dark and intense, the 2019 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo smolders up with a blend of dried black cherries, sage, sweet tobacco and shaved pine. There's a burst of sweet red fruits up front, yet it quickly builds in tension with a saturation of tart wild berries, and through it all, vibrant acidity maintains balance. Long, structured and pleasantly chewy, with a minty freshness, the 2019 tapers off with a staining of primary concentration and grippy tannins. Lose the 2019 in the cellar. It's a beast in need of taming. 94 pts" - Eric Guido (Vinous)