Basilisco Aglianico del Vulture Fontanelle

The idea of working with the concept of 'gran cru' plots in Vulture comes from Viviana Malafarina, director of the Basilisco winery. Vulture is a region located in the north of Basilicata — home to an extinct volcano and a long history of winemaking. Splendid red wines are made here with Aglianico grapes thanks to plenty of sunlight, a cool climate and, of course, rich volcanic soils. Elegant, subtle and mineral red wines which, despite their long history, have an incredibly modern style.

Fontanelle is the youngest cru from Basilisco, a 15-year-old vineyard covering two and a half hectares of an area with many natural springs. The Basilisco Aglianico del Vulture Fontanelle wine from this cru is a clear-cut, immediate and enveloping wine, with a subtle concentration and crispy fruitiness. Although this delightfully lively wine shares the typical structural and tannicity characteristics of this variety, it is original in that it does not have the powerful and muscular profile Aglianico wines usually offer.

A spontaneous and joyful wine, it has a wonderful lively ruby colour in the glass. Rich aromas of black and red fruit, and sweet spices such as cinnamon, accompany hints of incense among other surprises. It is strikingly rich on the palate, with hints of spices and liquorice standing out, as the wine slowly evolves to a fine finish. Viviana Malafarina calls it 'an immediate, thrilling, sincere and fun wine, rather like a confident bragging young lad. An elegantly flavoursome wine which never lets you down'.