Product Review
The 2011 Aglianico del Vulture Titolo definitely shows the heat of the vintage with thicker aromas of blackberry preserves, barbecue spice, teriyaki sauce, liquid smoke and grilled rosemary twig. There's a sweet element to the bouquet that underscores the summer heat of 2011. That natural sweetness carries over to the palate where, not surprisingly, the tannins feel lush and soft. The mouthfeel is opulent and round with loads of blackberry and blackcurrant on the long finish. This edition of Titolo will certainly prove cellar worthy, but I can't imagine it lasting as long as some of the wines made in cooler years.
Wines produced from Aglianico tend to be full-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity, endowing them with good aging potential. The rich flavors of the wine make it appropriate for pairing with rich meats such as lamb. In its youth, Aglianico is very tannic and concentrated, requiring a few years of ageing before it can be approachable. As it ages, the fruit becomes more pronounced and the tannins more balanced with the rest of the wine. The trademark coloring of the wine is a deep garnet. In well made examples of the wine, it can have chocolate and plum aromas.
Calabria (pronounced [ka'la?brja]), is a region in southern Italy, forming the toe of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro. The most populated city and the seat of the Calabrian Regional Council, however, is Reggio.Over 90% of the region's wine production is red wine, with a large portion made from the Gaglioppo grape. Calabria has 12 Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) regions but only 4% of the yearly production is classified as DOC wine. The region is one of Italy's most rural and least industrialized with per capita income less than half of the national average.[1] Following World War II, many of Calabria's inhabitants emigrated to the United States and Argentina. Those left behind have been slow to developed a vibrant wine industry with only the red wines of Cirò garnering much international attention. Today Calabrian wines are mostly produced to high alcohol levels and sold to co-operatives who transfer the wines to the northern Italian wine regions to use as blending component.
