Campi Taurasini, Campania, Italy
In the Campi Taurasini DOC, the Aglianico grapes hang for an especially long time and are among the last in Italy to ripen. Intentionally crafted to be more approachable and less austere, Campi Taurasini can be considered a kind of younger sibling of Taurasi. It is a wine that is should be easy to drink but also one of spirit, quality, and sense of place. Opaque black plum in the glass, Colli di Castelfranci’s Vadantico casts classic, smoky, volcanic soil-driven aromas of Szechuan peppers, macerated cherries, stemmy herbs, and camphor. Notes of pomegranate, tobacco, cinnamon, star anise, and pink peppercorns emerge as the wine lingers on the palate. Piquant and smoky, the Vadantico reaffirms its volcanic origins on its long, spicy and oh-so-satisfying finish. The Vadantico will prove a wonderful pasta wine that will complement sauces rich with olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and pine nuts. Delicious now served with the aforementioned pasta dish, eggplant casserole or a spit-roasted leg of lamb, it will easily reward a few years’ patience in your cool cellar.
