Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Aglianico del Vulture Daginestra is darkly floral and earthy in the glass, with a whiff of flowery undergrowth, wet stones, mentholated herbs and blackberries. This is round and soothing, with soft textures offset by masses of mineral-inflected red and black fruits that saturate the palate. It tapers off long and structured with edgy tannins. A bump of residual acidity maintains freshness despite the 2021’s youthful tension and intensity. The Daginestra is a beast in need of taming.
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Wine Spectator
A compact red, with muscular tannins enmeshed in a swathe of plush texture and flavors of baked plum, dehydrated cherry, leather and Earl Grey. Delicate spice and mineral notes play on the firm finish. Give this some short-term cellaring to shine. Best after 2027.
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.