Barbaresco, Bottled Brilliance
Grown on the mineral-rich slopes of Mount Vulture, this wine is a living testament to a land once colonized by the Greeks thousands of years ago. This Aglianico is born from vineyards situated at elevations of 400–550 meters, where volcanic soil, continental climate, and decades-old vines yield fruit of remarkable depth and character. The wine is aged for 10 months in a thoughtful blend of stainless steel and barrique, preserving purity while adding a layer of complexity.
Deeply rooted in history, the Aglianico grape has been cherished since ancient times—legend has it that Hannibal's troops restored their strength with wines from this very region. During the Middle Ages, kings and emperors demanded barrels of it. Today, the legacy continues with Vigneti del Vulture, offering a noble expression of southern Italian terroir that rivals the great reds of Europe.
Still under the radar, there is a charming rusticity to this wine that I personally love; generally I am not a fan of volatile acidity but even in it’s youth Aglianico to me already has a touch of balsamic quality to it as a reduced, sweet, dark fruit with a touch of vinegar on the nose. Brought to us by our friends at Empson & Co imports, this is a version of Aglianico that is quite approachable in it’s youth, balancing ripeness of tannin with rich dark berry fruit. Perhaps an underrated importer when compared to KLWM, RWM, et al, I appreciate Empson for the consistent quality at the entry level, as with this value-oriented Aglianico. This is a wine I consistently used in my restaurant days in Italian restaurants to pair with hearty bolognese or lamb shank. Spring is here, but New England spring can still make for chilly nights and full flavors!
