Riserva Taurasi Aglianico

13 years and starting to say something quite nice
The tannin is solved and super silky
The complexity is there
The freshness supports the body extremely well
We are just when the the Taurasi starts to unfold and transform itself from caterpillar to butterfly
Very exciting

6/22/19 - blind tasting wine 5 - high tone red fruited cherry strawberry pomegranate some black plum m+ acid and tannins riper angry Barolo

Ripe, dark fruit, chewy. Attractive.

A big nose of plum, blackberries and chestnuts. In the mouth a full body wine , muscular not fat. Clean fruit backed up with leather and earth assisted by a nice dose of acid . Tannins are there and put up a wall of resistance that will likely soften with time.

Beautiful dark transparent ruby. Nose is pulverized clay, wet earth, grilled berries, red cherries and asian spice. Palate has red fruits and some prickly tannins. Elegant, rustic and lean. Long with brisk tartness. Great food wine

Perfect wine with steak. Aged just the right amount. Powerful Aglianico tasting of balsamic vinegar , licorice, and leather. A very long finish. Dark red fruit to start. A great Taurasi. Strong licorice-tinged nose. Likely not ready to drink before now. Rare find worth drinking, especially for only $65. Underrated here since the prior ratings were likely done too early after the vintage. As is typical of Taurasi, it requires 1 hour decanting and 14 years of aging.

In a wonderful spot. Dense. Dark. Concentrated around the mid-palate. With air it opens up, gets livelier and the structure becomes more excited and expressive.

Tannic behemoth. Wonderful and brooding.

Tasted in 2 runs: 1st in the morning - no decanting: touch of reduction suggesting tar; compact with dark fruit scents - tight and abundant tannins; well balanced and a firm finish. 2nd in the evening, nose was more appealing with clearer definition. On the palate the dark fruits were still there but alongside notes of wood. Robust, firm all the way long and tight. Brilliant but one to lay down a bit, good potential over the next 7-10 years.

Incredible! As someone said “full bodied, muscular not fat!”