Giornata Aglianico Luna Matta Vineyard 2017
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Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The beast. Burly. The aroma is black and feral. From black pepper to chaparral, and black berries to tar, she reeks of something that cannot be tamed. Within her layers are some unexpected impressions of balsamic, mint, and dry rub. A tinge of Kalamata and pickling brine pushes the savory aspects. Upon tasting, she assaults your palate with an intensity that is hard to match. Texture and body, tannin and spice. Somehow, her unparalleled assertiveness is complimented by the perfect level of tart blackberry acidity. I am reminded of those times we would forage in the thorny thickets behind my childhood home. This wine is like those thickets-- wild, untamed, and worthy of the occasional romp. Pair with something dripping with fat.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The medium ruby colored 2017 Aglianico Luna Matta Vineyard echoes the Rhône valley with its aromas of cracked pepper, cast iron, charcuterie and garrigue with a core of dried cranberry and currant fruit. The palate is full-bodied, firm and pleasantly rustic with a long, uplifted finish.
Other Vintages
2018-
James
Suckling - Vinous
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Robert
Parker - Decanter
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Jeb
Dunnuck
Making its home in the mountainous southern Italy, Aglianico is a bold red variety that is late to ripen and often spends until November on the vine. It thrives in Campania as the exclusive variety in the age-worthy red wine called Taurasi. Aglianico also has great success in the volcanic soils of Basilicata where it makes the robust, Aglianico del Vulture. Somm Secret—The name “Aglianico” bears striking resemblance to Ellenico, the Italian word for "Greek," but no evidence shows it has Greek ancestry. However, it first appeared in Italy around an ancient Greek colony located in present-day Avellino, Campania.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.