Every year producers from Basilicata’s Aglianico del Vulture D.O.C. production zone take part in ‘Aglianica’, a wine festival held in the city of Venosa’s Castello di Pirro del Balzo. Local wine enthusiasts are encouraged to go along to celebrate the regions most acclaimed wines as well as artisanal salamis, cheeses and olive oils.
A Sunday evening presents a more intimate ambience and in many cases an opportunity to talk with wine makers without the trappings of the surroundings and clever marketing, an opportunity to contemplate solely what’s in the glass you might say.
Traditional folk music and a beautiful October’s evening did however get the better of me and in no time at all was compelled to taste through a whole host of wines. Regio Cantina’s Don Pa’ fermented in steel vats under controlled temperature was one of my favourites, 12-14 months in French barrique imparting an elegant mouth feel, silky tannins and a lovely explosion of black fruit on the palate.
With Basilicata offering mainly just Aglianico del Vulture’s I was able to taste pretty much as when something caught the eye. Bisceglia’s Gudarrà was one such wine; pleasantly refreshing as a dusty, dry tannic grip combined with youthful fruit and reasonably persistent finish of damson and liquorice.
Cantine del Notaio’s new ‘Preliminare’ did however offer something of novelty. A white wine obtained from red Aglianico grapes, blended with Malvasia, Moscato and Chardonnay. This brightly yellow coloured wine, exuding exotic aromas of mango, papaya and pineapple has a production of around 20,000 bottles a year.
Right at the end of the evening I did stumble, almost literally, on an interesting little wine of which I had never come across and will endeavour to look it up. An Aglianico del Vulture (obviously) by the name of ‘Serra del Prete’ produced by a family run vineyard in Maschito. Musto Carmelitano produce this wine from 45year old vines whose organic fruit is hand picked and treated naturally.
To see which Aglianico del Vulture wines we carry, visit our store or email us at info@cantinacaputo.com
