2018 Villa Raiano, ‘Costa Baiano’ Campi Taurasini, Aglianico, Campania, Italy

Producer: the Basso family founded Villa Raiano in 1996 in an old oil mill in the hamlet of Raiano. A modern cellar was built in 2009 on a hill in San Michele de Serino surrounded by vineyards & chestnut wood. The estate is run by cousins, Brunella & Federico Basso, producing terroir driven wines.

Place: the grapes come from vineyards in the commune of Castelfranci, in the province of Avellino, upper Irpinia, in Campania Southern Italy.

Name: Irpinia Campi Taurasini  means ‘little Taurasi fields’ . It is made to be drunk young but has aging potential as well. Irpinia from the ancient word ‘Hirpus’ meaning wolf, which remains Irpinia’s symbol.

Farming: organic viticulture since 2018

Varietal: Aglianico, native italian grape

Soil: calcareous clay on a base of yellow marl, combined with elements of volcanic origin

Winemaking: destemmed, macerated for 10 days in steel vats, aged in  50% cement, 50% terracotta amphora for 12 months.

Tasting Notes: Crunchy Bramble Berries – Earthy Tannin – Liquorice