2009 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Irpinia Aglianico

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!

2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico

Well, it's the first Saturday of the month and that means it's Cellar Saturday!  This is the magical day when I raid the cellar and find some wine that's at lease a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that hasn't been in my cellar very long, as I recently purchased it through the Platinum selection at Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico is a deep, brooding wine that is well known in the southern regions of Italy, particularly near Puglia, and it usually strikes me as a hearty wine to balance out the lighter wines of Tuscany and north.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, much more reminiscent of a big Cabernet, and classic for this black skinned varietal.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, currant and an interesting freshness amid notes of anise and cocoa powder.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of blackberry, plum and cherry that transitions easily to some notes of volcanic ash and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are exceptionally structured, providing for a velvety yet bone dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great wine to remind you of why you should love Aglianico.  This wine would be idea with a big grilled porterhouse,  a hearty roast beef or even a spicy pasta dish.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Italian classic of sweet Italian sausage sautéed with onions and peppers and served with some vermicelli with garlic and olive oil topped with shaved Parmesan.  Cheers!

2013 D'Angelo Sacravite Rosso Basilicata

Happy Friday!  It's been a bitterly cold week and I am ready for the springlike temperatures in the 30s projected for this weekend!  We were smack in the middle of the Polar Vortex this week, with highs below zero for much of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, reaching a new record low of -22, so today it seemed almost balmy getting up near 20 degrees!  And with such a heat wave, it's time to open a nice bottle of wine, and tonight it's the wine for the February wine club selection, the 2013 D'Angelo Sacravite Rosso Basilicata, a 100% Aglianico from the Basilicata region of Southern Italy.  I've had a variety of experiences with Aglianico, from lighter floral wines to heartier, earthier wines, so let's see where this one lies.

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of ripe black fruit, plum, cherry and boysenberry with undertones of lavender and rose.  The taste is wonderfully approachable, with a rush of ripe berry that just screams Italian, before settling into some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are robust but well integrated, giving wonderful structure to the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very easy going and food friendly red wine and a terrific value at just $10.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of dishes, from steaks and barbecued ribs, to pasta and pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Friday night dinner of steak and tots, with a rare grilled prime New York strip over a bed of grilled leeks and some classic tater tots.  Cheers!