The estate's 2006 Fiano di Avellino is a more complete wine than the Greco. It reveals lovely, perfumed aromatics along with generous white peaches, orange peel and mint, all supported by a vein of minerality that accompanies the wine from start to finish and gives the wine its wonderful sense of proportion. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2010.
Proprietors Tani and Maria Ida Avallone run this estate located outside Naples, in the province of Caserta, where the history of viticulture spans several centuries. The mineral-rich soils yield wines of uncommon complexity and elegance. The estate works with a selection of ancient clones of the area’s indigenous varieties that were re-discovered several decades ago and subsequently re-planted throughout the vineyards. Riccardo Cotarella is the consulting oenologist. Unlike many estates in the region, Villa Matilde excels with both reds and whites. Notes on some of Villa Matilde’s value-priced wines can be found in my Best Buys from Italy article available at www.erobertparker.com.
Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900