2016 Donnachiara Taurasi

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 90.7 points

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  5/27/2022 - Snoot Doggie Dogg Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Aglianico is one of those high-quality grapes you just don’t hear about too often, essentially a little undiscovered gem from southern Italy. Supposedly the grape originated in Greece and was brought to Italy by the Phoenicians 4000 years ago, though there is some debate to this claim since no Aglianico appears in Greece today. It is currently grown in various parts around the heel/toe/arch of Italy’s boot, with two D.O.C.G. regions known for producing especially good examples of this wine. One of these is Taurasi, which is the area surrounding a town in Campania, while the other being Monte Vulture in the northwestern part of the Basilicata region. Wines from Taurasi are required to be aged for three years prior to going to market, and this particular specimen spent twelve months in French oak barrique before being aged in bottle 24 months.
  
  Known as the “Nebbiolo of the south”, Aglianico is a thick-skinned grape with beefy tannins, and this bottle certainly earns that label. Dark ruby in color with a purple tinge and an inky black core, this wine is moderately aromatic with aromas of dark fruits (blackberry in particular) along with dried herbs, potting soil, dark chocolate and a slightly peppery character reminiscent of cracked black pepper. Upon sipping, one is met with a full-bodied, quite tannic wine with medium-high acidity. In terms of flavor, it offers ripe dark cherry, black plum, and blackberry mixed with a bit of dried herbs and cocoa powder. These then overlay an earthy, leathery, smokey substrate. Upon swallowing, the pepper jumps to the top before yielding to a long, dry, earthy finish that leaves one with a lingering smokey tone.
  
  In all, this is like a less fruity, leatherier and more herbaceous cabernet sauvignon; it has the same body, beefy tannins and earthiness I would expect out of a Super Tuscan. Indeed, it has many, many layers of flavors and aromas that I described to my wife as “really yummy.” Wine Folly recommends that Aglianico is “enjoyed slow, like a fine Islay scotch” and I am inclined to agree. Additionally, the acidity makes it work well with cheesy food, and its strong tannin structure means it will easily age well. I recommend aging for 10 years or more if you can afford the wait!

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  1/23/2022 - huse wrote: flawed

  Big disappointment. Defective bottle with an extremely bitter, artificial character.
  Zeer teleurstellend. Een wijn met een extreem bitter, artificieel smaakpatroon.

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  8/25/2021 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Retail $45. 100% Aglianico. Big Ass Bottle. Under cork. Gambero 2. Like many an Italian variety, I do not have a ton of experience with Aglianico. What I do know (or at least what I have been told) is that the variety is quite dark, tannic, and needs considerable bottle time before one should even think about pulling the cork. Thus, when I received this wine as part of the Gamero Rosso tasting, I was a bit hesitant to crack this puppy. As expected, inky dark with plenty of black and blue fruit in the glass, this is not a wine for the faint of heart. Mocha, spice, and earth also characterize this wine even before a drop passes by the lips. Once that happens? Sure, there is a ton of brooding fruit, but the tartness really steals the show. Rich, powerful, unctuous, expressive, this wine needs some food (or a Cohiba), preferably quite beefy and laden with fat. T-Bone? Sure. A ten-hour Bolognese? Getting there. 48 hour braised short ribs? Bingo.
  
  www.thedrunkencyclist.com

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  11/18/2020 - CheviotCellar wrote: 90 Points

  The previous reviewer nailed all the flavors. This vintage is more elegant, and unfortunately has less power than prior vintages we've tried from this producer. I was looking for the more intense Aglianico, mouth puckering and rustic experience. This wine felt more modern.

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  8/30/2020 - Paul Masaryk Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Nose has a beautiful floral quality of violet, dried herbs, plum and bramble. Elegant structure with great earth and hot stone notes. Clove and nutmeg to round out the small barrique wood contact signature.

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