Molettieri Taurasi

About

“A new wave of wines from Campania that showcase how special the Aglianico grape can be.” – Robert Parker, Jr.

“Molettieri owns some of the best-located vineyards in Taurasi and his wines are textbook, uncompromising examples of what Aglianico can do here.” – Stephen Tanzer

Salvatore Molettieri, the talented owner of the estate, comes from an old farming family and manages his estate together with his son Giovanni, a trained oenologist. The first wine was bottled with the 1988 vintage and their sustainably-farmed vineyards now extend for thirteen hectares in Montemarano, historically one of the two finest crus of the appellation.  At 550 meters altitude, perfect ripening here occurs in the first week of November, yielding wines of powerful authority and concentration. The average total production of the estate is approximately 5,500 cases per year. Organic farming practices.

Molettieri Taurasi is made with 100% Aglianico from the province of Montemarano in Avellino 500-550 meters above sea level, planted to soils rich in calcareous clay. Maceration on the skins over 15-20 days in 50% wood tanks and 50% steel vats. Aging in a combination of 30, 50, and 80-hectolitre oak casks and French oak barriques for 36 months prior to bottling.

A deep, plush, full-bodied red, with dense tannins that are well-meshed to flavors of black cherry pâte de fruit, olive paste,cured tobacco, spice box, iron and graphite. Big and brooding, this nonetheless maintains a sense of elegance throughout.