Quintodecimo Awards

 93 - TERRA D'ECLANO AGLIANICO IRPINIA DOC 2017

The bouquet in the 2017 Aglianico Terra d’Eclano is dark and alluring, opening with a dusting of sweet violet candies, followed by ripe blueberry, blackberry, hints of licorice, and peppery floral tones that build in the glass. On the palate, silky, seductive textures are offset by cool-toned black fruits and exotic spice, as salty minerals saturate the senses and hints of fine tannin mount toward the finale. The finish is long but also remarkably fresh with an air of minty herbs and lingering florals, as residual acids sizzle, giving the 2017 Terra d’Eclano vibrancy up to the last moment. I can’t help but feel that this wine gets better with every passing vintage. -- Eric Guido

94- VIGNA GRANDE CERZITO TAURASI DOCG RISERVA 2015

The bouquet on the 2015 Taurasi Riserva Vigna Quintodecimo is restrained at first, requiring time in the glass to truly unfurl; yet once it does, an elegant and gorgeous display of pretty violets, ripe blackberry, blueberry skins, plum, and white smoke lifts from the glass. It washes across the senses like pure silk, ushering in mineral-infused black fruits and spice, with compelling acidity that adds tremendous energy from start to finish. Tannins arrive toward the finale, previously enveloped in the wine’s density of fruit, showing a structured display, yet still so easy to like, as an air of pretty florals and remnants of blackberry fade. It’s a wine of undeniable elegance, which will be hard to keep your hands off long enough to watch it reach full maturity. -- Eric Guido

 94 - VIGNA QUINTODECIMO TAURASI DOCG RISERVA 2015

The bouquet on the 2015 Taurasi Riserva Vigna Quintodecimo is restrained at first, requiring time in the glass to truly unfurl; yet once it does, an elegant and gorgeous display of pretty violets, ripe blackberry, blueberry skins, plum, and white smoke lifts from the glass. It washes across the senses like pure silk, ushering in mineral-infused black fruits and spice, with compelling acidity that adds tremendous energy from start to finish. Tannins arrive toward the finale, previously enveloped in the wine’s density of fruit, showing a structured display, yet still so easy to like, as an air of pretty florals and remnants of blackberry fade. It’s a wine of undeniable elegance, which will be hard to keep your hands off long enough to watch it reach full maturity.

-- Eric Guido