The 2010 Castel del Monte Aglianico Riserva Cappellaccio highlights the austerity and the slightly bitter qualities of the the powerhouse Aglianico grape. This is a beautiful wine with a great sense of depth and power that distinguishes it in a very positive way. Dark fruit nuances are followed by plum, blackberry jam and dried cherry. The wine boasts solid structure, a thick body and velvety consistency. It sees 15 days of skin maceration (to cement those firm tannins) and is aged in both Slavonian oak casks and smaller French barrique in equal parts. Cappellaccio could be compared to wines sold at double this price.