100% Aglianico

Food pairing: This wine pairs well with hearty pasta dishes and red meats

"This wine has an intense ruby-red color, substantial yet quite transparent. On the nose, it is rich and persistent, with hints of ripe fruit and subtle balsamic and spicy notes. On the palate, it appears warm, with austere tannins and a certain persistence." -Winery Notes

Food pairing: This wine pairs well with hearty pasta dishes and red meats

When one talks about the "legendary" Italian wines of the last century, there are certain ones that come to mind. Of course, `68 Biondi-Santi Brunello Riserva (the wine that put them on the map), `71 Conterno Monfortino, and `85 Sassacaia would probably be top of mind for most Italian fans. But for the true "under-the-radar" Italian cognoscenti, one could certainly make an argument for the `68 Taurasi Riservas from Mastroberardino. In 1968, the vintage conditions were so favorable, that Mastroberardino made 3 single-vineyard Taurasis along with their "regular" Riserva, something that was only repeated once, in 1971 (with only one single-vineyard).

To this day, at over 50 years old, these wines (when properly stored) continue to provide amazingly complex drinking. Taurasi is made from the Aglianico grape, which according to Sheldon Wasserman has roots in the hillside vineyards of Taurasi since the time of the Roman Empire in 80 BC. Some authorities also think it was the first varietal brought to Italy by the ancient Greeks.

Aglianico produces deep, powerful, and structured wines, with aromas of tar, licorice, and minerals, earning it the nickname "the Nebbiolo of the South".