Taurasi Antico Castello 2016

The Taurasi from the Antico Castello winery is a red wine with deep spicy sensations, produced using a traditional yet modern approach. At the helm of the winery, located in the municipality of San Mango sul Calore, in the heart of Irpinia, are siblings Chiara and Francesco Romano, the former a graduate in Economics and Business Management and the latter in Civil Engineering, both of whom are also sommeliers. The two young siblings chose 2009 to take over the family estate founded just three years earlier by their parents, Franco and Fiorenza, who still support them in the management.

Antico Castello Taurasi is a pure Aglianico from vineyards located in Sant'Agata on clay and limestone soils at about 450 metres above sea level. The vines, trained to the spurred cordon system, enjoy the cool Irpinian climate and northern and southern exposure. The bunches of grapes are harvested by hand in the first ten days of November and are then vinified red through alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with 30 days of maceration on the skins. The mass is then racked and placed in 25 and 50 hectolitre oak casks for ageing for approximately 24 months. A long bottle ageing period follows before release.

To the eye, the Taurasi Antico Castello is intensely ruby red. Aromas of berries describe the deep and complex mosaic of aromas, black cherry, rose petals, oriental spices, cinchona and coffee, combined with fine balsamic and mineral hints. The palate is full and enveloping, warm and fresh simultaneously, with austere tannins accompanying the lingering finish consistent with the nose in its fruity, balsamic and spicy returns.