Happy Cellar Saturday! It's the first Saturday of a new month (and new year!), that magical time where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making. Tonight, I've opened a bottle that has actually been in my cellar only a month or so, as I bought it in a mystery six-pack of red wine from Wines Till Sold Out not too long ago. The 2009 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Irpinia Aglianico is from southern Italy and is one of the first mature bottles of this varietal that I've tried, as usually I have consumed Aglianico when younger. So, let's see how a bit of age has expressed itself in this wine!
The wine is a much deeper purple color in the glass, with just a hint of amber along the edges as one would expect with a bit of age. The nose presents aromas of ripe plum, leather, spice box and dried herbs, with the classic aromas of anise and black pepper spice you often see in an aged Italian red wine. The first sip takes me back to dinners in Rome in the 1990s, with a rush of fruit that is quickly overtaken by some wonderful notes of anise, leather and spice, leading to earthy notes of forest floor and dusty limestone midpalate. The tannins are somewhat subdued, but supportive of a lovely dry finish that evolves with every sip.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a lovely expression of the nuance and complexity of aged Italian red wines. This wine would pair well with many hearty Italian dishes, from classic carbonara to sausage and peppers, lasagna to classic spaghetti and meatballs. Tonight, I am going the classic route and enjoying this wine with a stuffed manicotti, with marinara and a simple mixed green salad with sage blossom vinaigrette. Cheers!
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