faires of verona

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
Since you didn't specify that they had to be good, we tasted some pricey Cantina del Taburno Bue Apis at the Pie Franco tasting. Montevetrano is also high end.
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I'm beginning to really appreciate the cut of your jib, sir.
 
Highlights of the Aglianico scene:

Most everybody in 2004: Molettieri and Caggiano had their best releases ever from 2004

mid 1990's Terredora di Paolo "Fatica" is wonderful, current stuff also good

Mastroberardino from 1997, the mid 1980's, and 1968 (which is spectacular)

Clelia Romano's inagural release of Taurasi was delicioso.

Lonardo gets it right sometimes, but it is never the times you expect (2003 being a good example)

Pietracupa could make good Taurasi if they got their act together with it.

Paternoster "Don Anselmo" from whenever

D'Angelo from more recent times (avoid the 1980's) can be good

Several other Aglianico del Vulture would be wonderful if they cut out the oak and the extraction

When in the Campania, a simple rule is to avoid Riservas. They are always somehow worse. Often overoaked.

Probably I am forgetting someone important
 
Right, forgot Perillo, which is a good producer.

Also, if you like a little Piedirosso in your Aglianico, I swear to you that Villa Matilde "Camarato" from the late 1990's into at least 2001 is really wonderful. The 1997 is like the best thing you could ever possibly drink right now. Just knock your socks off good.
 
There is also the Galardi Terra di Lavoro which is an aglianico/piedirosso blend. I've never had it...there seems to be mixed reviews (people either love it or hate it from what I've read) and it is a bit pricy.
 
Yeah, I mean, Terra di Lavoro.

If it is old enough, it is other people's money, and that is your kind of thing. Otherwise, no. At least that is my opinion from what I have had.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
Yeah, I mean, Terra di Lavoro.

If it is old enough, it is other people's money, and that is your kind of thing. Otherwise, no. At least that is my opinion from what I have had.
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I tasted the '98 with Zul. It was unfathomably awful.
 
If you want to experiment, Crush has the 2002 Galardi for $51. I had it a couple of nights ago and I think it wasn't bad at all. Would be tough to have it cheaper than that I guess, but the vintage from what I understand is far from the best.
 
originally posted by VLM:

Valentini for $100 would really be something, wouldn't it.

When I was first getting into the wine business in the early 90s, Valentini was considered sui generis, and priced that way. Things crested a few years ago when it was released at close to $500 retail.

I've had some bottles of Masciarelli Marina Cvetiæ that I thought was really good and not modern in a tarted up sense, but modern in the Eric Texier sense.
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I saw 1990 Valentini Montepulciano on a restaurant list this evening for $390. So I mean, retail wonders could, maybe possibly, be found. The last time I purchased a Valentini red retail it was in Toscana, though, I have to say. Of course, given the line of work I used to be employed in, I drank the '85 for free.

I think you are giving the Marina Cvetic, a wine which I purchased and sold to others from the list at one point, too much credit. But, I mean, different strokes. Marina Cvetic Trebbiano is okay, but no Pepe white.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Yule, VLM, and (especially) Levi: Thank you very much for your insights on aglianico-based wines.
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Another thing to say: basic Aglianico from a decent producer will often get you much further than basic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from any producer (for the same money).
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Yule, VLM, and (especially) Levi: Thank you very much for your insights on aglianico-based wines.
Click to expand...

Another thing to say: basic Aglianico from a decent producer will often get you much further than basic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from any producer (for the same money).
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I've been drinking the '07 Lonardo Irpinia lately.
It scratches that Aglianico itch and its very affordable.
 
I used to have the Lonardo Grecomusc' white on the list for like $23/btl. On a three-star restaurant list that is like $00/btl.

And it was gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.
 
Levi, did you ever get to try any of the Giardino aglianicos? (I remember you commenting on the whites before.) I thought the few different bottlings I had were at turns thought provoking, tasty, somewhat rustic perhaps? One was monumentally tannic (Le Fore or Drogonia, I forget), but you could sense a good wine underneath/down the road (ie, the wine just started to be tasty after being open 4 days). They were my first aglianicos, after a single btl of Mastroberardino, so I really don't know, and didn't know what to expect, but I'd buy again.
 
I did. I had the Le Folle. It was just as Giardino was coming on-stream in the States.

I found it fairly brett-tastic. I had it on the list.

But for me the Giardino wines worth getting really psyched about where the Coda di Volpe variants. White (orange) and Rosato. I poured the Rosato for awhile. The Aglianico was like the normal one in the bunch.

It is weird how I used to complain about how hard it was to sell Sud Italia, because now that is like what the people out there do. I'm like a big wimp or something.
 
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