Taurasi DOCG 2017 Tre Vigne - Di Prisco

The history of Aglianico certainly has ancient roots, dating back hundreds of years, likely to Greece, where it originated. However, more modernly, it is known by its current name, given by the Aragonese. Translated into its finest expression, Aglianico takes the name Taurasi, derived from the eponymous municipality of Taurasi, a small wine-producing village that the Romans claimed after defeating the Irpini. The DOCG is produced in seventeen municipalities and, along with a few others, represents one of the finest examples of Italian viticulture and enology. Di Prisco's Taurasi is produced in areas ranging from 450 to a maximum of 500 meters above sea level. The grapes used for Taurasi come from the Fontanarosa vineyards, facing southeast, with a yield of approximately 60 quintals per hectare. It is a hillside wine that expresses its potential on clay and volcanic soils. Di Prisco grows Aglianico on three separate small plots totaling 4 hectares. The largest, at 2 hectares, has been identified as the most suitable and will be dedicated to the "Santa Lucia" cru. Taurasi is an extremely elegant red wine, structured, tannic, full-bodied, and capable of defying the years. Harvest takes place in the last weeks of October, and it is then aged for at least 18 months in oak barrels, followed by bottle aging for a total of 36 months, and 24 and 48 months for the Riserva, respectively. Di Prisco, however, extends the total aging period to 60 months, the time necessary for optimal maturation. The first vintage of Taurasi from the Di Prisco winery dates back to 1997, just four years after the introduction of the DOCG. Initially, the idea of ​​aging such a demanding grape as Aglianico was unclear, and the decision was made to follow the model of other Italian reds, primarily using barriques for aging. Over the years, they also began experimenting with tonneaux and large barrels, understanding the direction they needed to take. Today, Taurasi is vinified exclusively in large barrels, where the potential of Aglianico can fully express itself without distorting the varietal's identity.