Taurasi Riserva Vigna Grande Cerzito 2018 94WA
Quintodecimo

94 pts Wine Advocate
In a heavy glass bottle, the Quintodecimo 2018 Taurasi Riserva Vigna Grande Cerzito (with fruit from volcanic soils, ash and pumice) is richly concentrated but also impeccably balanced with a very dense textural base to support an intense bouquet that is interwoven with black fruit, spice, tar and oak toast. The tannins are slightly drier in this wine and the mouthfeel is just a tad more streamlined, giving this wine the tools it needs to become more elegant and fine with extra time in the bottle. It's a classic Taurasi with long aging potential. Production is limited to just 2,129 bottles.

The Taurasi Riserva Vigna Grande Cerzito is a one-hectare cru from Aglianico, planted in 2004 on the southern side of the Quindecimo estate. The soil, originating from fallen ash and pumice, is volcanic in nature, non-calcareous, well-drained, deep and with a coarse texture, conditions which favor a high availability of oxygen for the roots. the vineyard, at 440 meters above sea level with a slope of 15%, has a planting density of 5000 vines per hectare and is cultivated using counter-espalier methods with spurred cordon pruning. Vigna Grande Cerzito involves for its power and elegance, with its refined aromas of cherry, plum and chocolate and its fleshy and delicate sip. Very long-lived, it becomes even more refined and elegant as the years pass, completing itself with very fresh notes of mint, eucalyptus and incense.

Grape variety: Aglianico 100%.
Vineyard:  Vigna Grande Cerzito in Mirabella Eclano. Planted 2004.
Altitude: 460 metres
Exposure: South
Soils: Volcanic nature, caused by falling ashes and pumices, not calcareous, well drained and deep.
Viticulture: Planting density 5000 vines/hectare. Counter espalier with spurred cordon pruning. Yeld 1 kg/vine. Manually picked in 15 kg boxes.
Winemaking: After the selection of the grapes, before and after destemming, the crushed grapes, ferment about 20-25 days at 28-30° C.
Aging: The Wines are aged for 24 months in new oak barrels.