WTN: 2000 Villa Carafa Taurasi (Aglianico)

[Jenise]

Aglianico is one of those grapes that entices me, but I've mostly only had the cheaper versions. This 'better' bottling has been on my list to try so when I saw the it on the wine list last night at the Chrysalis, I ordered it.

Spicy, dense blackberry flavor with coffee and pepper. It drinks well now, but showed particuarly well after about an hour when we got a glimpse of the fruit cake kind of flavors it will develop during further cellaring. $70 on the restaurant wine list, which I suspect is borderline rapacious.

This sounds like it's pretty primary right now, Jenise. I've never had this producer but the older Taurino of Mastroberodino and the Cinque Querce (and CQ Riserva) from Molettieri are the aglianico I reach for first. The '96 CQ was $25 on release (2 years ago?) and is going to be wonderful in 5 or so more years. It was all tar and earth and deep dark fruit when young but it's completely shut down now. RWC was just advertising for the '97 (I think) CQ Riserva at a reasonable price.

[David M. Bueker]

I keep reading these notes on Taurasi, and I wonder when Diana found enough time away from basketball to make wine.

Where the heck do you find these wines? I've never even seen one, much less tasted one.

When I first had the '96 Moliettieri it tasted like it could have been made from Diana's burnt sneakers. I dont see them around too often, David, but they do pop up locally from time to time.

Nice note, thanks! I recently tried an interesting Aglianico also: Villa Matilde's Camarata 1997. It was deliciously rustic, reminding me of your note, and reminding me of Musar except that this was more dark toned whereas I find Musar is more red toned. But the harsh, rasping acidity was lovely - only Musar and Madeiras have such divine acidity! I also need to try more Aglianicos. It seemingly is a variety I would like very much. Of course with our pathetic monopoly, we don't have any smart ones.