2016 Aglianico del Vulture Il Sigillo

Cantine del Notaio started production in the late nineties when Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti left his professorship and focused on making traditional wines from Vulture. Since the beginning, the renowned Luigi Moio of Quintodecimo has consulted and helped guide the project. The wines of Cantine del Notaio have a dark and haunting character, managing to mix the power and verticality of Aglianico with a richness of fruit that creates fantastic balance, both in youth and maturity. In keeping with the Moio approach, these wines are raised in more of a Bordeaux style, utilizing new barriques and some tonneaux. The Aglianico del Vulture Il Sigillo has long been one of the top wines from the region, as it is yet again in 2016. Harvest for Il Sigillo typically takes place incredibly late, around the end of November into December, which accounts for its richness, yet the balance within cannot be denied. For those looking to experience the house style in a more traditional package, I highly recommend the La Firma, which is remarkably balanced in 2017. Here, the fruit is picked earlier, at the beginning of November, and the wine refines for just twelve months in small-format oak. I also suggest the 2021 Il Repertorio, picked even earlier in October, which yielded a fresher style.