There's a popular notion that the grape Aglianico was introduced to southern Italy by the Greeks, about 500BC and that the word Aglianico is derived from Hellenico (meaning Greek). In reality these origins are far from certain but it is certain that Aglianico has a very long history in southern Italian vineyards where it has featured for many hundreds of years. This red grape has a jammy, raisiny stuffing to it which makes it seem ‘warm’ to drink, particularly with rich stews on chilly winter nights. It often has a lovely sinewy tannin structure and slightly higher acidity than you might expect from such a warm climate grape, and it blends well with other grapes too, especially Sangiovese.
I haven’t tried every bottle in this selection yet, however, so far they are all very tasty. I’m a Chardonnay lover, always on the look out for a dryish not sweet wine and these are just right for me. An excellent mixed case and we’ll priced.
This was a very nice surprise in Wine Direct’s very welcome Plenty Under $20 category. Beautifully fruity, rich and smooth. Often the Plenty Under $20 range is a little light for the depth I like but I will definitely be reordering this one.
A great summer wine… elegant and a fine balance of lighter fruit and delicate acidity with a nice dry finish. Very drinkable with or without food. A nice change from our usual unoaked French Chardonnay