Aglianico del Vulture Titolo, Fucci, Elena 2021

Now that Elena Fucci's portfolio of wines is becoming more comprehensive (growing from one wine to four with a rosé, an amphorae-aged wine and a second Aglianico called Sceg), she has come to call this wine her "classico" expression. Indeed, the 2021 Aglianico del Vulture Titolo is classic Elena Fucci and is the wine you should buy if you love her signature style. It opens to sweet aromas that come from the velvety ripeness of the fruit but also from careful oak aging. Baked plum, rum cake and dried trial mix with honey granola appear on the bouquet. Titolo finishes very long and is driven by acidic freshness and a grippy quality of tannins that is typical of this grape. In this case, the tannins are not too dry, and there is enough power to drive future bottle evolution. Production is 27,025 bottles. 2025-2038

100% Aglianico from the Titolo vineyard. From the back label: ‘Vintage 2021 is in all respects very similar to 2020. Humanity is still dealing with the pandemic, and the viticultural season reflects the trend of 2020. A cold and snowy winter, an unusually warm spring in June, for the weather to return to the typical climate of Vulture with regular rains and with mild temperatures and large thermic excursions during the night. Harvest began 21 October and unfortunately the last with my grandfather, Generoso, who passed away in December at almost 96 years of age. A huge loss, yet with lots of teaching passed on to us.’ Unfiltered. Certified organic (Sidel). Deep, lustrous, very youthful crimson. Beautifully perfumed raspberry and dark-cherry nose with touches of oak and minerally iron notes. Elegant, fragrant red fruit, with a firm but ripe bite of tannins that demand more time. Super-elegant finish that is richly textured by the tannins and leaving a medium-bodied impression. This will need at least another year to settle. Drink between 2026-2036.