Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Darkly floral and intense, the 2010 Aglianico del Vulture La Firma tempts the imagination with a whiff of mentholated blackberries, blood orange and balsamic spices. It opens with a balanced inner sweetness contrasted by a whiplash of acidity and crisp mineral tones as sour wild berry fruits saturate. The 2010 is harmonious from start to finish. A framework of adolescent tannins resonates, with hints of dark chocolate and clove slowly tapering off. This is just starting to show a little maturity on the nose, but there are years of positive evolution in store for readers who can be patient.
Making its home in the mountainous southern Italy, Aglianico is a bold red variety that is late to ripen and often spends until November on the vine. It thrives in Campania as the exclusive variety in the age-worthy red wine called Taurasi. Aglianico also has great success in the volcanic soils of Basilicata where it makes the robust, Aglianico del Vulture. Somm Secret—The name “Aglianico” bears striking resemblance to Ellenico, the Italian word for "Greek," but no evidence shows it has Greek ancestry. However, it first appeared in Italy around an ancient Greek colony located in present-day Avellino, Campania.
Inhabiting the arch of Italy’s boot, this southern, mountainous region has a relatively small amount of vineyard area under vine. Basilicata has one DOCG for its prized red grape, Aglianico, Aglianico del Vulture Superior, which is limited to the slopes of an extinct volcano. The best whites are made of Malvasia bianca.