2020 Contrade di Taurasi (Cantine Lonardo) Aglianico Irpinia, Italy, Campania, Wine Review

This is 100% Aglianico from Campania, Italy. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, slight anise and smoke/asphalt. Full bodied. Nice acidity. Thick tannins. On the palate, this is young but drinking nicely. Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries with slight smokiness. Long finish. This is nice on its own but will be better with food. This would work well with (vegetarian) Lasagna. Drink over the next five to ten years.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2020

Current Price:

$26.00USD

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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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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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

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

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$54.00USD

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.

2019 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici, Italy, Campania, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$45.00USD

This is 100% Aglianico from Campania, Italy. Purple and ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, ash, and slight anise. Full bodied. Softer texture than expected. Complex. Flavors of black cherries with some ash and anise. Good acidity. Long finish. This is nice on its own but will be better with food. This will work well with meat dishes but also eggplants. Still not yet at peak so if drinking soon, give it some air. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.

2020 Contrade di Taurasi (Cantine Lonardo) Aglianico Irpinia, Italy, Campania, Wine Review

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Taurasi: A Campania Red Wine Worth Acquiring

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

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