2012 Abballe Biferno Biferno Rosso Reserva DOC, Italy, Molise, Wine Review

This is a really interesting wine that sells for $15. It is 80% Montepulciano and 20% Aglianico. The 2012 is what seems to be in the stores in the US right now and it is drinking great. Purple in color with ruby swirls. The nose has black cherries, smoke and plums. On the palate, there is a nice underlying minerality with nice black cherry fruit. Good acidity. This worked well with pasta but drinks fine on its own, the acidity is not as much as many Italian wines. Good finish. Probably has another 3 to 5 years left. Maybe more.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2012

Current Price:

$15.00USD

Aglianico del Vulture: The Basilicata Region Produces One of the Great Undiscovered Wines of Italy

All the way down at the southern end of Italy, in the arch of the boot, is the region of Basilicata. It is sparsely populated with sturdy peoples of very old traditions. The people who reside there often call their region by the ancient Roman name of Lucanta. The wine making and drinking traditions there predate Rome. One of the oldest and best wines made there is from the Aglianico grape. It is called Aglianico del Vulture. In fact, it is one of the great-undiscovered wines of Italy. This is most likely due to the isolated position of Basilicata and lack of tourism.

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Le Marche's Le Terrazze: Bob Dylan, Chaos & Some Great Italian Wines

Le Marche (pronounced lay Mar-kay) is a region in central Italy that borders the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Apennines to the west. Le Marche borders Emilia-Romagna to the north, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio to the west, and Abruzzi to the south. The terrain is mostly hills and mountains once you get away from the coast. The area has a long history matching most of the historic conquests of Italy: it was occupied by the Gaul’s, colonized by the Romans, later it was invaded by the Goths and Lombard’s, then by Charlemagne. It was then mostly a papal state before finally being annexed in the mid-1800’s by the kingdom of Italy.

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2015 Cantine del Notaio Aglianico del Vulture Il Repertorio, Italy, Basilicata, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$40.00USD

This is a very nice wine made from the Aglianico grape in southern Italy (think the arch of the foot). Aglianico can be one of the more tannic grapes. It often needs a lot of cellaring to come around but also can be quite long lived. Purple in color, slight ruby rim. The nose is nice with black cherries, black pepper, roasted herbs, and slight anise. On the palate, this has strong tannins. Bright black cherry fruit with good acidity. This will need at least five years to show much and better to give it ten. It should be good for another ten to fifteen, at least, after that. It is v

2010 Cantine del Notaio Aglianico del Vulture La Firma, Italy, Basilicata, Wine Review

Vintage:

2010

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$43.00USD

From the arch in the Italian boot. This wine is consistently a great value. It does takes some time to mature, so finding the 2010 was a treat. Made from the Aglianico grape. This is deep ruby in color. The nose has black cherries, smoke, slight anise and a nice minerality. Full bodied. This is ripe with nice black cherry fruit. Underneath is a nice smoky minerality. Very nice texture. Good acidity. Long finish. This is a tasty wine that will work well on its own (not common for Italian wines) or with food (the way Italians drink wine!). It might improve a bit more but should b

2017 Cantina di Venosa Aglianico del Vulture Massaron, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

This is made from the Aglianico grape in Basilicata (the arch of the boot), Italy. 15% abv. Purple in color with garnet swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, anise, smoke and spice. Full bodied. Firm tannins. Moderate acidity. On the palate, black cherries, cherry liqueur, slight bitter cherry note and spice. Long finish. At age 6, this still seems young as it improved greatly when tasting it on day 2. This drinks well on its own and will work well with food. A nice wine with a hearty Lasagna. Drink over the next ten years.

2012 Abballe Biferno Biferno Rosso Reserva DOC, Italy, Molise, Wine Review

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