Mar 13
“The 2011 Taurasi is all Aglianico and could be thought of as the Barbaresco of the south! It offers a smoking bouquet of ripe currants, melted licorice, asphalt and truffle in a ripe, opulent, sexy stye that’s already hard to resist. From a low yielding, hot growing season, drink this pleasure-bent beauty over the coming 5-7 years.” – Jeb Dunnuck
“More elegant than the Taurasi, with awesome notes of black cherries, currants, toasted spices and hints of barrique, the 2011 Serpico is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and layered, with both freshness and richness. This is a beautifully ripe, layered and elegant wine that shines on all accounts. This cuvee comes from a single vineyard of ungrafted Aglianico and should continue drinking beautifully for a least another decade.” – Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2013 Patrimo is 100% Merlot that spent 18 months in French oak, with close to a year in the bottle before release. It offers a ripe, chocolately, sexy style with loads of currants, truffle, toasty oak, and earthy aromatics. With Medium to full-bodied richness, a light elegant texture and fine tannin, it lacks a touch of mid-palate depth, yet is nicely balanced and certainly an outstanding wine.” – Jeb Dunnuck
James Suckling gave 95 points to the Aglianico Irpinia Rubrato 2015 which he also listed as number 76 of his top 100 Italian wines for 2017.
“This shows such a beautiful density and texture with licorice and blackberry character. Full and layered yet always tight and focused. A fantastic young red. Drink or hold,” his note on the wine said.
On November 29, 2017, in his “What I’m Drinking Now” column for the Huffington Post, John Mariani writes about Feudi di San Gregorio’s Taurasi 2011.
“Taurasi Feudi di San Gregorio 2011 ($40)—The Aglianico grapes of 2011 enjoyed a hot summer in Campania that shows off the robust intensity they can develop in a good year at a good producer’s estate. Not every example deserves a DOCG appellation but Feudi San Gregorio’s most certainly does as a regional wine with guaranteed quality. Aglianico is a late ripening varietal and likes a dry climate, too often tasting of hard tannins. This example, now six years old, shows why it is well worth waiting for.”
Michael Apstein gives Feudi di San Gregorio, Taurasi Riserva DOCG (Campania, Italy) Piano di Montevergine 2011 95 points on WineReviewOnline.com
He notes that “ I hate to say that an almost $75 a bottle of wine is a bargain, but, if you have 75 bucks to spend on a wine, here it is. Although Taurasi justifiably carries the DOCG accolade, it still lacks the prestige — and price — of the Tuscan or Piedmont DOCGs. The Aglianico grape grown in Taurasi can, in the right hands, produce monumental wines, such as this one. Tarry and mineral-y, with dark fruit profile, this full-bodied wine is still tightly wound, even at 6 years of age. The tannins are apparent and firm, but not aggressive or angular. This is a long and refined youthful wine that will reward another decade of cellaring. If that’s not your plan, open and decant it several hours before serving and then watch it unfold in the glass. 95″ Michael Apstein Nov 7, 2017
