2005 Elena Fucci Aglianico del Vulture "Titolo"
Another Garagiste QPR buy that absolutely belts it out of the park. An hour+ ago I opened this, poured a sip and the tannins pretty much ripped apart the insides of my mouth.
After some time in the decanter this is freaking amazing. If anyone's ever stood near a dormant volcano, you'll remember the smell of the air around it - all ash, smoke and rocks. That's exactly how this smells, with softer cherry, violet and minty fragrances that emerge with more air. In the mouth it's still incredibly primary, years too young - but very, very good. Savoury earthy and tarry flavours, spices and some cherry and plum notes around a backbone of bright acidity and firm tannins giving a slightly coarse, rustic texture. This isn't a wine about fruit, but about evoking a sense of place. Fabulous.