Elena Fucci Titolo Aglianico del Vulture 2014
Elena Fucci Titolo Aglianico del Vulture 2014
Elena Fucci
$39.99 US Low Pricing
Comp at $53
93 pts Vinous Media
The 2014 Aglianico del Vulture Titolo is a different animal altogether, with a rich blend of plum sauce, balsamic spices, mentholated herbs, dried black cherries and dusty earth. This displays textures of pure silk, lifted and refined with crunchy minerality and crisp wild berry fruits that cascade throughout. Violet inner florals resonate as the 2014 leaves a coating of edgy tannins, but a tart blackberry concentration balances things out. Even though 2014 was as a cold and rainy vintage, Vulture was able to succeed due to the late harvest of Aglianico, which took place at the beginning of November.
As I said above, the wine really speaks of its origin, both of the place and the grape variety aglianico. The wine gets its name from the vineyard that sits on the Titolo lava channel of Monte Vulture in northern Basilicata. While the brand was only started in 2000, she is the third generation at the helm of her family's operation that previously just sold grapes.
Located at 600 meters above sea level, on steep volcanic slopes of Basilicata, the vines benefit from intense sunlight, as well as high diurnal temperature changes that promote freshness and acidity. Because f the altitude, Monte Vulture is a relatively cool place and the harvest is late, usually starting at the end of October. The old vines were planted in the 1950’s in the dark, mineral-rich pozzolanic volcanic soils that are composed of layers of clay interspersed with lapilli and ash from the nearby and now extinct volcano.
The vineyards are organic, the grapes are hand-picked, and the clusters are crushed in small batches. Titolo is fermented in stainless steel tanks in the contemporary winery and finished with full malolactic fermentation in new lightly toasted French barriques. There is no fining or filtration to ensure that “Titolo” remains true. I can't stress this enough, while the wines see new French oak, they are not oaky and with this age on them the oak has integrated into the wines seamlessly.
