Decant - Artigiano Richard Klein South Italy Tasting

Visiting Campagnia, Sicilia, and Puglia.

• 2023 Contrada Michele Fiano di Avellino 88 Points

  Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino DOCG

  Such a delight of a wine, light gold in color.
  
  At first whiff, smells like a piece of wax with a mix of floral honey and white flower bouquet. A bit of botanical and zesty fruit nuance.
  
  In the palate, more leaning towards fruit than anything else. Lemon, Kumquat, Quince, tart berries, and a touch of minerality like whetstone and river pebbles. The volcanic touch gives wine more than just a linear tasting juice.
  
  Pleasingly medium acidicity, with good amount of length (medium+) and surprsingly some bite to it. Easy drinking and refreshing.

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• 2023 Contrada Michele Greco di Tufo 87 Points

  Italy, Campania, Greco di Tufo DOCG

  Leaning towards more yellow in color
  Overall, a very soft and mellow peachy and stonefruit.
  
  In palate, more vegetal taste; capsicum and sprouts. I get a bit of orange in the palate as well, but with some salinity. Very interesting palate, but much to subtle and quiet.
  
  Doesn't retain a lot of acidity on this one, but it's got that silent but lengthy finish long enough to let you wonder and decide what it tastes like.

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• 2022 Mastroberardino Aglianico Irpinia 88 Points

  Italy, Campania, Irpinia

  Even in dimly lit room, can tell it's medium intensity of a strong purple.
  
  Getting strong dark cherry feel, with a bit dirt on it. Smokey game characteristics as well, and a hint of floral at the end.
  
  Contrastingly, very quiet on palate; dirt-y diluted cherry juice, but in a good way.
  
  Very pleasing in terms of texture, bitey tannins, medium acidity, but doesn't last very long so makes you go for another sip.

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• 2024 Cantine Fina Nero d'Avola Sicilia Miral 88 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

  Deep purple
  
  Initially strong perfume and floral notes; later some vegetative and raspberry dominantly.
  
  On palate, fruit is prominent with cherry and plum, with a rush of honey coming in later. Crunchy and juicy.
  
  Strong tannins and high acidity, with good finish. Overall very enjoyable and well made.

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• 2022 Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato 90 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane

  a beautiful light purple
  
  Quite hard to get hold of aroma; I pick up some reductive yet bright, perfume-like wild strawberry scent with a bit of spicy and red chilli notes following.
  
  Crunchy red currants with a bit of wild herbs. Very clean style yet moreish.
  
  Good amount of acidity with surprisngly quite tannic and fading yet lengthy finish.

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• 2018 Cantine Fina Caro Maestro 88 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

  Deep garnet
  
  Intense plum, and fresh date and green notes in the back. After sometime, hint of black spice and lead fills the bowl. Aromas definitely younger than expected.
  
  Quiet fresh for its age/vintage, hints of cherry, tobacco, red fruits, and cacao. Definitely some altitude on these grapes. Very powerful yet not a tad astringent, well made.
  
  High tannins, high acidity, but a bit lacking finish.

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• 2020 Leone de Castris Salice Salentino Riserva 87 Points

  Italy, Puglia, Salice Salentino

  Blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia, deep purple, with rustic tint.
  
  Shy, floral with a hint of dried minty herb bouquet. Very delicate.
  
  a basket full of dark plum with a couple of red fruits and dried dark spice. A bit astringent yet understandable for how wheavy the wine is.
  
  High tannin with forgiving acidity and a decent length in the finish.

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• 2023 Masseria Li Veli Susumaniello Askos Salento IGT 85 Points

  Italy, Puglia, Salento IGT

  Deep purple
  
  Fragrant nose with floral and perfume, but can't make up of what kind of fruit as there are some chemical-ish nuance that just makes it a bit superficial for me.
  
  There are definitely very dark and wild berries in play here. Some hints of gamey-ness, leathery, and tar. A bit of salinity and rock minerals at the end.
  
  Some tannins and acidity, with deserved length of finish.

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• 2021 Azienda Agricola Petrera Pasquale Primitivo Gioia del Colle Fatalone Riserva 87 Points

  Italy, Puglia, Gioia del Colle

  Last wine of the night, also deep purple.
  
  Strawberry, plum, herbaceous. A grand mix of berries, red fruit and green.
  
  Palate is mostly of fruit, cherry, plum, but definitely on a lighter side compared to the aromas. There are some black spices in there, but ultimately, a bit of a straight forward wine at current stage of maturity.
  
  Good acidity, forgiving tannins and outstanding finish. Decent zinfandel but not personal favorite.

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