2008 Contrade di Taurasi (Cantine Lonardo) Taurasi Le Coste, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

This is 100% Aglianico from southern Italy. Amazingly, the grapes are not harvested until November but the vineyards are at 1300 feet. They are also ungrafted! The wine is ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is great with cherries, anise, and spice. Full bodied. Firm tannins. On the palate, this is deep. Dark cherries, cherries and black licorice. Good acidity. Nice finish. This is nice on its own but better with food. Osso Bucco would be classic but it went great with vegan "Italian Sausage" as well. Drink over the next eight to ten years.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2008

Current Price:

$54.00USD

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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Taurasi: A Campania Red Wine Worth Acquiring

In the region of Campania (see related article on Lacryma Christi ) there is red wine that is worth knowing about and which merits acquisition. This wine, named Taurasi, is made from the Aglianico grape, the same grape discussed in the article on Aglianico del Vulture from Basilicata. Indeed, the Aglianico grape is utilized over much of southern Italy. For reasons which will be explained below, the Aglainicos from Campania are some of the best made anywhere.

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2009 Contrade di Taurasi (Cantine Lonardo) Taurasi, Italy, Campania, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$44.00USD

Taurasi is a grape that generally needs a long time to come around even in the less expensive bottlings. This one is a step or two above those although it is the base wine for this producer. A very nice example. Deep purple in color. The nose is nice. Earthy with smoke, anise and plenty of black cherry fruit. On the palate, this is complex and nice layered with earth, cherries and forest floor notes. Firm tannins. Good acidity. Nice finish. It will work with a wide variety of foods from stews to a steak to a pasta with cream sauce. If drinking soon, it should be given time to bre

2017 Calafè Taurasi, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$36.00USD

Taurasi DOCG is made from Aglianico grapes and is one of the most underrated grapes anywhere. The more "serious" ones can age fr thirty years, and the more accessible ones are usually great values. This is the later. Purple in color with a ruby rim. The nose has black cherries, char, and slight spice. Full bodied. Firm tannins. On the palate, black cherries, cherries and black licorice. Good acidity. Good finish. This is delicious and drinks easily on its own although it will work great with a nice pizza. Drink over the next five to eight years.

2002 Salvatore Molettieri Taurasi Cinque Querce, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

Vintage:

2002

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$34.00USD

Made from the Aglianico grape. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is nice. Showing some age with cherries, sour cherries, tobacco and just a bit of milk chocolate. Medium bodied. Light to medium tannins. Great acidity. On the palate fresh and dried cherries, slight forest floor and a bit of smoked herbs. Complex. It unwinds nicely in the glass. Long finish. Pretty much at peak or perhaps just past. Very nice on its own.

2008 Contrade di Taurasi (Cantine Lonardo) Taurasi Le Coste, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

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

Taurasi: A Campania Red Wine Worth Acquiring

2009 Contrade di Taurasi (Cantine Lonardo) Taurasi, Italy, Campania, Wine Review

2017 Calafè Taurasi, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

2002 Salvatore Molettieri Taurasi Cinque Querce, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review