Aglianico del Vulture 'Titolo' 2021

Elena Fucci is a superstar in Italian wine and makes some of the countrys best Aglianico from her old vines on Monte Vulture in Basilicata. The Fucci vineyards are located on the Titolo lava channel grown at 650 metres on a volcanic soil mix known locally as pozzolana. The viticulture is organic and tending the grapes is labour intensive, picked by hand and crushed in small batches. It is intensely aromatic with rich, ripe fruit, the palate full bodied with firm tannins and acidity, allowing it to age for many years. This is a wine that really speaks of its origins, both place and grape.

Indeed, the 2021 Aglianico del Vulture Titolo is classic Elena Fucci and is the wine you should buy if you love her signature style. It opens to sweet aromas that come from the velvety ripeness of the fruit but also from careful oak aging. Baked plum, rum cake and dried trial mix with honey granola appear on the bouquet. Titolo finishes very long and is driven by acidic freshness and a grippy quality of tannins that is typical of this grape. In this case, the tannins are not too dry, and there is enough power to drive future bottle evolution. 94+, Monica Larner