In the shadow of the Vulture
'Aglianico del Vulture is potentially one of the world's-not just Italy's-greatest wines and no single bottling demonstrates its quality better than the Titolo.' - Ian d'Agata, vinous.com
It is often called 'the Barolo of the south' for its finesse, its age-worthiness, and its fierce tannins when young. It typically marries a ripe fruit profile to brisk acidity. It is certainly one of Italy's most noble grape varieties. It has extended its reach to places such as Australia and California, but its heartland is the mountainous interior of southern Italy; it is the Aglianico grape variety. It prefers volcanic soils, and its very finest expressions come from either Taurasi (in Campania) or a little further south still, in Basilicata's Aglianico del Vulture DOC.
Elena Fucci grew up in the shadow of the seven peaks of the extinct Vulture volcano, the heart of the region. She had never planned to be a winemaker. Her family owned some fine vineyards, but they always sold the grapes on. But when they began to discuss selling those vineyards, Elena realised they were about to part with a treasure. Layered among lava cliffs, on a deep seam of volcanic ash and rock, these are the oldest vineyards on the mountain, with some vines over 70 years old. There was no shortage of potential buyers knocking at their door, but instead Elena went off to study oenology herself.
It worked. The first vintage of the Fucci winery was 2000, and the wines quickly picked up a following. Awards and commercial success followed. On vinous.com, Ian d'Agata has described Titolo as 'Basilicata's best wine', the Titolo vineyard as 'a true Grand Cru'. As he sees it, the Fucci estate 'now ranks with Italy's wine nobility'. We're delighted to have come into a parcel of 2016 Titolo, a wine that marries power and refinement, and is a beautiful expression of an extreme terroir. /NT
'Elena Fucci's 2016 Aglianico del Vulture Titolo is a wine built for the long haul. It should continue its steady evolution over the next 20 years if not more. Stitched together with enormous precision, the wine offers balanced intensity and a beautiful level of fruit purity that speaks both to the Aglianico grape and the extreme territory that shapes it. This vintage finishes on a dry note with fine texture and elegantly integrated tannins. The wine is aged in barrique for 12 months, of which half is new oak with various levels of toast. The vines range from 50 to 70 years old and are planted up to 650 meters above sea level. Some 28,000 bottles were produced.' - 94 points, Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Aug 2018
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available imminently
