Campania, Italy
The great Mastroberardino estate works primarily with Campania’s native varieties, of which the ancient Piedirosso is employed exclusively for their reference-standard Lacryma Christi Rosso. On Mount Vesuvius’s volcanic, mineral-rich, soils, the Piedirosso reaches its apogee as a solo variety and as a blending partner to Aglianico. A translucent crimson-garnet hue in the glass, Mastroberardino’s Lacryma Christi Rosso conveys its noble volcanic origins with deep, spicy aromas of tar, smoke, licorice, game, peppery salumi, and ferrous earth. Plump and silky on the fore-palate, the Lacryma tenses mid-palate to reveal supple tannins framing a kernel of red plum, cherry, and boysenberry fruit. The volcanic soil signature returns for a well-deserved encore as the wine finishes long, smoky, and utterly compelling. A perfect wine for winter and early spring weather, enjoy this unique and soil-driven rosso now and over the coming four years with wood-fired pizzas, hearty pastas, burgers, salumi, grilled red meats, and vegetarian fare featuring mushrooms.
A March 2021 newsletter selection
