| Producer | Guastaferro |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Campania |
| Varietal | Aglianico |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Sku | 1150738 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Tasting Notes: Raffaele Guastaferro produces this wine from his small estate in the commune of Taurasi with some of the oldest vines in the world at about 175+ years old from a tiny two and a half hectare parcel. The wine has an incredible deep purple-ruby color with penetrating aromas of red and black cherry, aromatic herbs, licorice, violet, flinty and smoky notes of mocha and coffee. Southern Italy's first DOC red wine is Taurasi, granted DOC status in 1970 and in 1992 it became DOCG.
Estate History: Campania happens to have some very old vines dating back before the phylloxera virus wiped out the viticulture in Europe in the late 1800's. This virus could not survive in the volcanic soils of Mount Vesuvius therefore these native grapes were preserved and sort of "stuck in time" just like the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Another reason why Campania does not have international varieties is because of the economic conditions in southern Italy, Campanian winemakers frankly did not have the money to rip out Greco or Aglianico and replace it with Chardonnay and Cabernet. We can't mention Taurasi without giving credit to Antonio Mastroberardino a true pioneer who was responsible for preserving the wines from these native grapes and marketing them. The Mastroberardino family has been selling these wines since 1878 internationally.
Wines made from Aglianico are considered some of the most interesting and ageable wines in the world. The 3 best places for Aglianico wines are Basilicata (del Vulture) and Campania in Taburno and Taurasi. The latter being the most perfumed and longest lived with aromas of red roses, sour cherries, smoke and spice. Very reminiscent of Nebbiolo. The terroir of Taurasi is one of the most unique in Italy. In 1944 Mount Vesuvius erupted again and left about 2 feet of ash in the soil.
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