Vinicola del Sannio Aglianico 2010

Aglianico is tough to judge at times, due to the blocky and tense nature it tends to exhibit. Giving it some air (or decanting) helps bring out the details. But this wine is more forward right out of the bottle than most Aglianicos. It's polished, and allows more of the juicy joy of the varietal to come through. Black cherry liquer, graphite, and wet concrete in the nose, covered with a layer of black raspberry. Typical of Aglianico the mouthfeel is big but not like an overstuffed bean bag -- it has definition and wonderful edges and corners. It has structure, whereas many an Aglianico is monodimentional. Delicious wine, perfectly at home with grilled lamb or beef. In fact, it needs food to sing ... pairing this wine with food is like giving Etta James a microphone.
- tasting note by JK, February 2012