Terredora Aglianico di Irpinia 2001

[ShortWiner]

Not sure I've had an Aglianico before, but I've heard them raved about and wanted to try for some time. Ordered this one for $26 at an excellent restaurant in the East Village called Lil' Frankie's (know, Foodie?). Turned out to be a great wine--beautiful fruit and funk, soft tannins, full body. Very well-balanced stuff. Paired quite well with a large and varied Italian feast. If I can find this stuff retail I'll buy it in a second.

While I was at it I experimented by pairing it with an artichoke dish we had, as I've always read that artichokes are notoriously bad with wine. Sure enough, it seemed to rip the finish out from under the wine, leaving me with a vinegary taste.

Suggestions for other reasonably priced Aglianicos are welcome.

[Innkeeper]

Foodie used to sell a nice one, but doesn't seem to have it anymore. See: http://www.wines.com/ubb2/Forum24/HTML/000253.html

[Thomas]

I'm lunching on a Lil Frank pizza right now.

We don't have an Aglianico right now but we do have its cousin wine from Lacryma Christi, which includes Aglianico in the blend.

[scimmiatinit]

I don't have any idea of what You can find on the US market but You should find at a very good price Ramitello Di Majo Norante from Molise and many other producers from Campania, like Terredora the one You have tried. You can also search bottles, different in style, from Vulture(BASILICATA).

In Campania We have Aglianico from all the different areas of wine production:
Irpinia Aglianico (the best recognised aglianico and more ageable; sometimes tannins can be a little too hard, acidity too sharp and the wine can result very austere in carachter. From Irpinia comes the first Campania DOCG "Taurasi" that some people consider cousin to Barolos. Mastroberardino, Caggiano, Molettieri and many other names to look for !)
Falerno (the most ancient wine denomination of origin from the roman empire) del Massico Red and other wines can be found from the Caserta area (Villa Matilde is one) smoother...
Aglianico Beneventano (from Benevento) and
Cilento Aglianico and Amalfi Coast (both from Salerno area)where You can find wines either to drink younger or age for some years like Marisa Cuomo Furore or De Concilis Naima.

(Lacrima Christi is mostly Piedirosso with a very small account of Aglianico...
not a DOC I would look for if You want to understand better the grape and the wines it originates)


[This message has been edited by scimmiatinit (edited 09-23-2003).]

[Thomas]

You are correct about the blend, Scimmiatinit (I would never dispute your knowledge), but I think L, Christi, is under-rated for its strength and structure, and even with a little aglianico in the blend, it can be as appealing to those who like aglianico.

Generally, I find Irpinia "Taurasi" outstanding, if not superior, to most southern Italian wines, but that is a personal opinion, as are most wine opinions.

Incidentally, Fabio, there were three levels on the Falernum mountain, the highest level was in the most regard, which leads historians to believe that the famous 121BC (Opimiun year) wine revolution that supplanted Greek wines with Roman wines could have been led not by red wine, but by white (Falanghina?). White does better than red at higher elevations.

Anyway, either of the grapes were of Greek origin.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 09-23-2003).]

[Botafogo]

We have about ten on hand from Campania, Basilicata and even Puglia. Tonight at our tasting the Paternoster 1997 was a big hit.

Roberto