Taurasi 2016

Originating from the province of Avellino in Campania , southern Italy, Vesevo Taurasi DOCG comes from vineyards planted around thirty years ago on volcanic slopes shaped by the activity of Mount Vesuvius, at a moderate altitude that benefits from the cool breezes of the Bay of Naples. This historic region, often called "the Barolo of the South," is particularly well-suited to the Aglianico grape variety, where mineral-rich soils and a Mediterranean climate tempered by the altitude promote a slow ripening of the grapes, combining power and freshness, typical of the great aging wines of Campania.

Winemaking begins with carefully sorted, hand-harvested grapes, which are then destemmed and gently crushed. The must ferments with an extended maceration of 20 to 25 days at a controlled temperature to extract color, aromas, and structure. After fermentation, the wine is aged for approximately 16 months in French oak barrels , which helps to refine the tannins and develop the wine's aromatic profile, before a further period of bottle maturation that harmonizes the wine and prepares it for long aging.

This wine reveals notes of blackcurrant , morello cherry , wild blueberry , blackberry , licorice , dark tobacco , spices , and a subtle volcanic minerality. On the palate, it presents a full and structured texture, supported by firm yet well-integrated tannins and vibrant acidity that provides balance. The finish is long and elegant , leaving a lingering impression of depth, ripe fruit, and balance—the hallmark of a Taurasi with excellent aging potential.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!