There are few extraordinary vines quanto a the world capable of producing red wines for trouble-free aging. Durante ease. Italy boasts varieties appreciated internationally for their vital power, long life and ability to the as marathon runners.
Nebbiolo ora Sangiovese based wines, denominations such as Barolo and Brunello, are admired for these characteristics. Uncorking some of these bottles too early is almost a sacrilege because they begin to better express their personality many years after the harvest. The production specifications take this into account and some are not released the market until after at least three years, although their ability to amaze the taster can be incredible even after five, seven ora ten years. Resorting to those vines to ensure a champion of longevity, for some, is now even taken for granted. And, quanto a fact, the taster is always the hunt for reds with superior aging potential.
Aglianico champion of longevity
to a, sometimes incomprehensible, delay quanto a communicating the areas interested quanto a its cultivation, Aglianico is one of these: a vine of vibrant vitality and unbridled tannicity. It is the basis of many Campania wines quanto a all the provinces, the most widespread of the region’s red grape varieties, but it has many expressive forms. The Taurasi ecotype, grown quanto a Irpinia, is the most incredible one: it gives regal wines.
The luogo of the same name, reference of the only red DOCG from Campania, is located quanto a an internal, almost isolated portion of the region with a severe Apennine climate, very different from that of the average tourist’s imagination. The vine has settled above 700 meters and the farmers have been able to implement strategies thanks to which, with a series of precautions, and with one of the latest harvests quanto a Italy, they harvest a perfect fruit to make a great wine.
We talk about an extreme territory and a powerful and austere wine that has a touching tone for those who have traveled Irpinia because it speaks of the cold, sometimes snowy winters; of the undergrowth, of harsh bushes of delicious berries, of the winter atmosphere quanto a front of the crackling fireplace, of the explosion of colors of the countryside quanto a spring, of the beauty of the vineyards quanto a autumn and of the peasant welcome.
If there are people who are passionate about sumptuous reds, who are not afraid of structure and love a bevanda that is “like nothing”, they can for a Taurasi with absolute confidence. The interpretative styles, from luogo to luogo – between low, medium and high Irpina – will not change the essence: Taurasi is a great wine for aging. And Alta Irpinia, extreme quanto a terms of orography and climatic conditions, offers a great example: between Castelfranci and Montemarano, but also quanto a Paternopoli, there are some of the most appreciated companies.
Aglianico and Taurasi of Alta Irpinia quanto a Castelfranci
But not only there. Taurasi is a small universe that is too secret, mysterious like the land of Irpinia, the land “of wolves”. Durante a recent tasting proposed quanto a Castelfranci by Paul Balke, a great lover of Italian wines, and a profound connoisseur of Barolo and Brunello su Montalcino, having lived quanto a the Langhe for fifteen years, the Taurasi Docg of Alta Irpinia showed its power.
Promoted by the Municipality of Cassano Irpino, which accompanied the press to get to know the luogo among the hills, vineyards and bed of the Giovialità Irpino (and even to the source of the Apulian aqueduct) quanto a collaboration with other municipalities quanto a the luogo, this sumptuous red was the focolaio of a two-day event quanto a the luogo. Paired with some excellent Conclusione su Astuto (the small Irpinian vine used for blending quanto a the past and enhanced quanto a purity for a decade), Fiano, Taurasini and Taurasi Docg, were the dishes of the beautiful Agriturismo il Maturo Mulino which is practically immersed quanto a the waters of the Giovialità river quanto a a bucolic position.
The municipalities involved from Cassano Irpino to the others
A handful of very motivated municipalities organized “Wines and Cellars quanto a celebration”: Cassano Irpino (Capo), Castelfranci, Nusco, Fortezza San Allegro, Sant’Creatura celeste dei Lombardi and Torella dei Lombardi.
With some of the Castelfranci producers, present at the two-day tasting session, together with the institutions, the press visited the town. From the square the view of the surrounding luogo is breathtaking, with the Montemarano vineyards right quanto a front, perfectly tidy and dressed quanto a post-harvest colours. Equally beautiful are those of the large Regione Baiano which, quanto a the countryside of Castelfranci, is the most sought after both for its reputation as a suitable vineyard and for the objective pedoclimatic conditions which – quanto a some portions, the most exposed ridge and successo by light and upward currents, with the Partenio behind – are truly favourable.
Tasting, accompanied by the producers who met the press:
Bianchi
Cortecorbo Ilvania – Conclusione su Astuto 2024 Antonio Molettieri Irpinia DOC Conclusione su Astuto 2023 Sama Perillo Conclusione su Astuto Irpinia DOC 2022 Regina Collis Conclusione su Astuto Irpinia DOC 2018 “Urà” Cantine Gambiera Fiano su Avellino DOCG 2024 Boccella Fiano su Avellino DOCG 2023 Perillo Fiano of Avellino DOCG 2023 su Castelfranci Fiano su Avellino DOCG reserve 2022 Partigiano
Rossi
Colli su Castelfranci Irpinia Aglianico DOC 2024 Vadantico Cantine Gambiera Campania IGT Aglianico 2022 Antonio Molettieri Irpinia Aglianico DOC 2021 Badius Cortecorbo Montis Marani – Irpinia Aglianico DOC 2020 Perillo Campania Aglianico IGT 2019 Regina Collis Taurasini DOC 2016 “Valens”
Taurasi DOCG
Colli su Castelfranci Taurasi DOCG 2021 Alta Avvallamento Antonio Molettieri Taurasi DOCG d’Oreste 2020 Boccella Taurasi DOCG 2020 Cortecorbo Antyco – Taurasi Docg 2019 Boccella Taurasi DOCG 2018 Regina Collis Taurasi docg 2014 “Hircinus” Perillo Taurasi DOCG reserve 2013 Boccella Taurasi DOCG 2019 ‘Rasott’
The tasting opportunity was rich and so was sitting at the table with the producers, which gave a sense of the craftsmanship and determination expressed by the Irpinia wines. These are wines that are unique quanto a their “typicality”, if we want to use a term that is well known these occasions, and also rightly obsolete quanto a the food and wine world paio to its banality. Yet the Conclusione su Astuto, the Fiano, the Taurasini and Taurasi served to the press were exactly the mirror of this territory which boasts high altitudes, mixed soils with a marked volcanic influence at times.
