2021 Pasetti Tenutarossa Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva 12x750ml

About the Wine

Named after the stunning red-haired women of the Pasetti family, Testarossa is their flagship for a reason. While other wines play it safe, this bold beauty transforms everything it touches—turning simple lasagna into a feast, braised meats into poetry, and ordinary nights into unforgettable Italian experiences.

Testarossa doesn't just pair with food, it makes everything taste like it was cooked by your Italian grandmother. This is heritage you can taste, passion you can pour, and the kind of wine that makes you understand why Italians take food and family so seriously.

While exploring the coastal beauty of Pescara, where the Adriatic meets Abruzzo's rugged charm, OVW founder Greg Martellotto made a discovery that would change everything. Every top restaurant in town were proudly pouring wines from one family: the Pasettis.

After falling in love with these wines during his holiday, Greg knew he had to meet the family behind them at Vinitaly. What followed was immediate—a direct import partnership that broke all our own rules. While BHW typically imports just one or two wines per producer, Pasetti's entire range was so extraordinary that we brought them all.

These aren't just some of Abruzzo's finest wines—they consistently rank among Italy's absolute best. We're thrilled to introduce you to the Pasetti legacy.

The Pasetti vineyards occupy something truly special: prime real estate inside Gran Sasso National Park. These are the same imposing Apennine peaks visible from Rome on clear days—mountain wines born from altitude and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. This is where rustic charm meets sunny hospitality, earning recognition from Wine Spectator as a "stunning, under-explored, year-round destination" and praise from Travel + Leisure for "stunning ocean views, three national parks, and rolling vineyards."

The Pasetti story began in the early 1900s when great-grandfather Silvestro purchased the first vineyards, starting as a humble grape grower. His grandson Franco made the bold leap to bottling under their own label, but the family's journey wasn't without struggle. Phylloxera devastated their vineyards, yet they emerged stronger, rebuilding in the 1950s to become a regional icon. Today, Mimmo Pasetti leads alongside his children Francesca, Rachele, Massimo, and Davide, continuing to elevate the family legacy with wines as distinctive as the region itself. This is a true family affair—every child involved in winemaking, sales, marketing, and administration.

High in the Pescosansonesco vineyards at 550 meters above sea level, something extraordinary happens. Clay-calcareous soils rich in organic matter meet dramatic temperature swings and refreshing Adriatic breezes, creating terroir that's perfect for wines with bold acidity, powerful structure, and incredible aging potential. As Domenico Pasetti puts it: "Wine is not an exact science but an experience of life." Each bottle carries generations of love, sacrifice, and vision for the future.

The Tenutarossa line represents Pasetti's crown jewel—tradition meeting family heritage in perfect harmony. This special label celebrates the striking beauty of Pasetti's red-haired women, a tribute as distinctive as the wines themselves.

Aging: 24 months in French Oak Barrels

Tasting Notes:

100% Montepulciano. Deep red ruby wine. Hints of ripe red fruit, dried violet and underbrush like prunes,sour cherries and marked tertiary aromas of eucalyptus, licorice, chocolate and tobacco. This is a robust wine, with elegant tannins, with excellent structure and persistence.

Critical Reviews

Opaque color with ruby reflections. Precious woods, spices and wild vegetation on a blackcurrant and black cherry backdrop. Robust mouthfeel, lined with freshness and languid tannins. Refined aging, lingering fruity presence, a Lord in the making. ~93 Gilbert & Gaillard (v.2020)