Grifalco Aglianico del Vulture “Daginestra” DOCG 2016

VM 94 pts

Crushed stone and wild herbs lift up as the 2016 Aglianico del Vulture DaGinestra blossoms in the glass. Swirling brings forward musky black cherry, roses and hints of grilled citrus. Its velvety textures coat all that they touch in mineral-laced plum and inner violet floral tones, as grippy tannins come forward toward the close. This tapers off youthfully structured, classic, long and undeniably refined. The Daginestra will require a number of years to come fully into focus, but it will be worth the wait. This single-vineyard Aglianico hails from 60- to 80-year-old vines growing at 560 meters, and it spends 24 months maturing in large oak casks. I tasted the 2016 over the course of two days and it only got better each time it was revisited.