Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2003 Taurasi Naturalis Historia is a relatively recent addition to the line-up made from 40-year old vines in the Mirabella vineyard. The Naturalis Historia is a big, opulent wine that reveals tons of varietal character, but with a more modern feel from the use of new French oak barrels. Scorched earth, game, spices, licorice and dark fruit all emerge from this sumptuous, elegant offering. The finish is long, sweet and pure. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2023.
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Wine Enthusiast
Naturalis Historia is an elegant and refined interpretation of Aglianico with pristine notes of black cherry, plum cake, spice, leather, tobacco and cola. It has a clean, polished feel with lingering mineral tones and softer tannins than your usual Taurasi. It comes in a beautifully embossed bottle that will also appeal to collectors.
Italian Red Wine
While picturesque hillsides, endless coastlines and a favorable climate serve to unify the grape-growing culture of this country. The apparent never-ending world of indigenous grape varieties gives Italy an unexampled charm and allure for its red wines. From the steep inclines of the Alps to the sprawling, warm, coastal plains of the south, red grape varieties thrive throughout.
The kings of Italy, wines like Barolo and Barbaresco (made of Nebbiolo), and Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino (made of Sangiovese), as well as Amarone (mostly Corvina), play center stage for the most lauded, collected and cellar-worthy reds. Less popular but entirely deserving of as much praise are the wines made from Aglianico, Sagrantino and Nerello Mascalese.
For those accustomed to drinking New World reds, the south is the place to start. Grapes like Negroamaro or Primitvo from Puglia and Nero d’Avola from Sicily make soft, ammicable, full-bodied, fruit-dominant wines. Curious palates should be on the lookout for Cannonau (Grenache), Lagrein, Teroldego, Ruché, Freisa, Cesanese, Schiopettino, Rossese and Gaglioppo to name a few.