The 2013 Aglianico del Vulture Basilisco is the base wine in a portfolio that sees an increasing number of special selection wines. This expression shows a softer side with lush berry fruit upfront and lots of oak spice following behind. Dried blackberry, cinnamon, vanilla stick and grilled herb are enhanced by campfire ash and crushed river stone. This wine is more ready to drink than the others from Basilisco.

The 2012 Aglianico del Vulture Basilisco shows the heat of the vintage with soft tones of black cherry, prune and rum cake. The tannins are yielding and malleable. This is a near-term wine that offers the intensity and the austerity that Aglianico offers without the age-worthy structure or acidity needed for long cellar aging. Drink this wine within the next five years.

The 2011 Aglianico del Vulture Basilisco is from the hottest vintage among the three wines (2009, 2010 and 2011) I tasted in this mini-vertical. In many ways, this is the most immediate and successful of the three wines thanks to the fact that the ripe fruit adds softness and fleshiness to counter the natural astringency of the Aglianico grape. Generous spice, tobacco and blackberry fruit are woven together with a thick and penetrating texture. Sweet tobacco appears on the close and signals that this wine is only at the beginning of a long evolution.

Sporting a round and immediate style, the 2010 Aglianico del Vulture Basilisco is much fuller and rounder compared to its predecessor from the 2009 vintage. An opulent bouquet offers tones of toasted coffee bean, back fruit, crushed mineral, dried cherry, cola and fresh asphalt. This wine is confident and proud with a deep sense of varietal voice. Dusty tannins and firm astringency give the wine an impressive sense of structure and length.

Smoky bacon fat, grilled herb and dried cherry and cranberry fruit notes mix in this savory, medium-bodied red. Give this some air and serve with charcuterie or grilled lamb to see this shine. Drink now. 1,250 cases made, 600 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Italy / South / Basilicata / Aglianico del Vulture Select to Add