2020 Aglianico Terra d’Eclano

Every place in Italy has a producer who somehow manages to capture both the tradition and spirit of their region and add a polish (not quite international) that takes the wines to an entirely new level. In Campania, that is without a doubt Professor Luigi Moio of Quintodecimo. Lovers of old-school, traditional Taurasi may not resonate with the single-vineyard Taurasi Vigna Grande Cerzito or Vigna Quintodecimo, but no one can argue their quality. The wines are of the absolute highest caliber and very much at home on the world stage. However, they are far from inexpensive. What readers are paying for is extreme care in the vineyards (all organic and sustainable), the cellar, the hand-tailored experience, the perfectly manicured packaging and, of course, some of the top wines being made in Campania today. This house is not just about Aglianico either. The Falanghina Via del Campo, Fiano di Avellino Exultet and Greco di Tufo Giallo d'Arles are not to be missed. Quintodecimo’s take on all three would impress just about any palate. The whites offer fantastic varietal purity, at extremely reasonable prices. As for the vintages presented in these recent notes, it bears mentioning that while many producers suffered through the 2018 vintage, Quintodecimo excelled. The two Taurasi are easily amongst the year’s top wines, with amazing balance, complexity and concentration. Meanwhile, the whites from 2021 show the dry warmth of the year in their intense fruit profiles yet still maintain a fantastic balance of acidity. Ultimately, they are incredibly pleasurable today.