I’m slowly but surely realizing that I am an Italian wine girl. Each time I try a new varietal, white or red, I’m blown away! Aglianico was no exception. Along with the excitement and happiness of each new Italian varietal tasting, I’m also a bit disappointed that it’s taken me so long to learn that these fantastic wines are out there and ready to be enjoyed!
Aglianico is most traditionally from southern Italy, however it originated in Greece. The name “Aglianico” loosely translates to “Greek vine” and is one of the oldest varietals in existence! The wine is known to be full-bodied, earthy, tannic, with leather notes.
This 2015 Nativ Aglianico was an excellent representation of the traditional traits of the varietal. The color was a deep burgundy, near-black with legs for days. The smell was jammy with great notes of plum, anise, smoke and cigar. The tastes were prominent in cigar and leather with strong tannins. The wine was not overly acidic and resembled a California Zinfandel. My overall thought was extreme disappointment that it took until this tasting to know that Aglianico was out there. I couldn’t believe that I’ve been missing out on this wine! As a Zin lover, this is a fantastic comp!
Naturally, I gave this wine a 5 out of 5 cork rating. This 2015 Native Aglianico typically retails for $16-20.