Aglianico

Aglianico is the great black grape of southern Italy, the variety behind Campania's Taurasi DOCG and Basilicata's Aglianico del Vulture. Grown on the volcanic soils of the Apennine foothills, it makes deeply coloured, powerfully structured reds that combine very high tannin with searing acidity — a rare double grip — over dark plum and black cherry, ash, tar, leather and smoke. Late-ripening and slow to soften, it is often called the "Barolo of the south," an austere, savoury wine built to age for a decade or more.