Grifalco - 'Grifalco' - Aglianico - Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, IT - 2019

Grifalco is an excellent producer of Aglianico del Vulture owned by the Piccin family, who were originally wine producers in Tuscany but decided that southern Italy, Basilicata in particular, was more promising. I think they're right. Vulture is indisputably one of the best appellations in southern Italy, and I am delighted to represent this excellent producer
Sourcing grapes from four different vineyards, Grifalco is the flagship wine of the estate, representing in their minds what Aglianico del Vulture should be and is capable of. Notes of blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and wild herbs. Well-balanced, with firm, sweet tannins and juicy acidity. Drinks well alongside anything from the grill. Drink now, or hold for 3-5 years.
-Oliver McCrum, Importer
*Region: *Basilicata, Italy
*Appellation: *Aglianico del Vulture DOC
*Grapes: *100% Aglianico
*Farming: *Certified organic
*Age of vines: *Planted between 1980 and 1995
*Altitude & Soil Type: *500 M, Volcanic
*Typical Harvest Time: *Mid October
*Maceration & Fermentation: *10 days maceration, controlled low temperature fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts
*Aging: *10 months in a mix of used barrique and tonneaux, followed by 8 months in steel and 6 months in bottle

*Finishing: *Filtered with 5 micron paper *Production: *25,000 bottles annually

Aglianico is the best known 'big red' grape in southern Italy, and there are two places where it grows particularly well, Taurasi in Campania and Monte Vulture in Basilicata. The areas are less than two hours from each other, both are volcanic in geology, and both produce magnificent red wines, amongst the most age-worthy in Italy (or anywhere else, for that matter).
Grifalco is an excellent producer of Aglianico del Vulture owned by the Piccin family, who were originally wine producers in Tuscany but decided that southern Italy, Basilicata in particular, was more promising. I think they're right.
I import four different bottlings of Aglianico del Vulture from Grifalco, called Gricos, Grifalco, Damaschito and Daginestra. Gricos is their everyday barbecue wine, made from young vines from all four vineyards, but nonetheless meaty and substantial. Vinified in a forward, drinkable style but still an ample, very flavorful red wine with a deep plummy color.
Grifalco is in the middle, the flagship wine of the estate, and thus bears its name. Sourcing grapes from all four different vineyards, this bottling represents in the Piccin’s minds what Aglianico del Vulture should be and is capable of. Notes of blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and wild herbs. Well-balanced, with firm, sweet tannins and juicy acidity. Drinks well alongside anything from the grill.
Damaschito is an excellent, age-worthy, substantial red wine from an older single vineyard from the Maschito area of Vulture. The soil here is volcanic and particularly rich in iron and manganese, thus giving it a reddish hue which you can observe in the slideshow above. After the Piccin’s first year of production in Vulture, they noticed how the grapes from the oldest part of their Maschito vineyard had “a clear taste and a precise soul, describing perfectly the place where it came from,”. They decided then to make a new label, a cru, from those vines only. The color of the soil from this site is mirrored by the color of this wine’s label. Shows ripe cherry, leather, tobacco, and licorice notes. Brilliant with prime rib or grilled lamb. Enjoy now or age 10-15 years.
Daginestra is another single vineyard, this one from the Ginestra area of Vulture. After a few years of vinifying all their vineyards separately, the Piccin’s decided to go forward with making a cru label just for the Ginestra vineyards. Much like with their Maschito site, they found the Ginestra grapes to be expressing an exceptionally clear view of that place. The soil here remains volcanic but is defined by large amounts of calcareous clay. These rich grey clays served as the inspiration for the color of the wine’s label. Exhibiting notes of ripe plum and red berry, violets, leather, and cinnamon.
One of the challenges in making Aglianico del Vulture is making sure that these big reds don't become bitter, and Fabrizio Piccin has done an excellent job of taming the tannins without making the wines glossy or 'International.' Vulture is indisputably one of the best appellations in southern Italy, and I am delighted to represent this excellent producer.
-Oliver McCrum, Importer