Dark grainy ruby under a beautiful nomacorc with wide clear edges. Intensely perfumed: warm banana and over-ripe tropical headed up with massive musk and bay rhum. It doesn’t come off bright and fruity in the nose, rather heady and sultry with an early-and-late barnyard.

In the mouth, ripe far beyond the price-point and ABV. Thin watery brilliance spiked with sharp acidity, over-powering the near-pruney nature of the fruit. It is impossible for every taste to not be affected by the nose–still a powerhouse despite the streamlined beauty of the mouthfeel.

An impossibly great food-wine for the California palate. Here’s what I recommend: Open this for your most astute Zinfandel, fat Grenache or even overblown Syrah fan and watch them when you point out it is 12-5 and some weird variety they’ve never heard of. The old world nature of it will be hard to hide, but the pure concentration will win them.

2016 I CACCIAGALLI ‘Mille’ Piedirosso/Aglianico 80/20 Roccamonfina IGT Teano Campania Italy 12.5

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