Mastroberardino, Taurasi DOCG (Campania, Italy) Aglianico 2016

 From the Campania region, Taurasi is the prime appellation for southern Italy’s finest red variety, Aglianico (pronounced “olly-on-ico’").  Taurasi ranks with Piedmont’s Barolo and Tuscany’s Brunello di Montalcino as Italy’s greatest red wines.  The 2016 Mastroberardino Taurasi boasts serious aging potential and an enticing bouquet of black-skinned fruit, violets, and baking spice.  On the firm, elegantly structured palate, polished tannins and fresh acidity balance flavors of fleshy black cherries, spiced plums, blackberries, and spices.  Some smoky mineral flavors are starting to appear, so hold for more complexity but utterly approachable now.