Tranquil Heart Vineyards, California (United States) Aglianico 2015

 Aglianico is the single greatest variety of the south of Italy, producing wines of exceptional longevity and complexity especially in Campania’s Taurasi DOCG.  This terrific rendition from California shows that this variety’s many virtues include the ability to travel well.  Its balance of ripeness and fresh acidity is, well, perfect (not a word I employ lightly).  Blackberry notes are accompanied by fresh red fruit notes and accented with light accents of toast and spices.  The wine’s depth of flavor could lead one to classify it as full-bodied, yet its freshness and energy make categorizing a bit more difficult.  If I were asked — as a steadfast lover of Taurasi — whether this wine can justify its asking price, but answer would be emphatically affirmative.  A Platinum Award winner at the 2018 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge.