Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi DOCG 2021, 0,75 L

Aglianico can pack quite a punch. But it really comes into its own when it’s combined with freshness, spice and elegance. This is precisely where the 2021 Taurasi DOCG from Feudi di San Gregorio comes into its own. It hails from the hills surrounding the historic town of Taurasi in Irpinia, where the grape variety thrives on the volcanic soils.

In the glass, the wine glows a deep ruby red with garnet-red highlights. On the nose, it gets straight to the point: sour cherry and Maraska cherry meet cinnamon and nutmeg, followed by vanilla and a hint of aniseed. On the palate, the Aglianico is full-bodied and well-balanced. The tannins are present but soft and rounded, and the finish lingers pleasantly for a long time.

To add extra depth, the Taurasi is given plenty of time: it matures for 18 months in barriques, followed by at least a further 18 months in the bottle. This makes it a red wine with structure and character, without the fruit being overshadowed by the ageing process.

Serve it with roast beef, hearty stews or roast poultry. And if you like Italian red wines with real substance, you really ought to have tried a Taurasi at least once. This one is a pretty good reason to do so.