Calabria Private Bin Aglianico 2009

Rustic label too. Cool.

Calabria Private Bin Aglianico 2009 (Riverina, NSW)
14%, Screwcap, $14.95
Source: Sample
www.westendestate.com.au

I was genuinely happy to see this wine turn up in amongst some recent samples. Happy as there is an air of genuineness about this wine, a simplicity of intent that I rather like. Sure it’s a rough and ready sort of red but it still has character and heart, something which is sadly missing in most $15 reds.

A big nose. Ripe, slightly raisined and gruff, with redcurrant and cedary old oak. There’s a sort of tarred cherry ripe headiness to it that marks it as warm climate vino, though still with enough of the sort of ‘not the usual Shiraz/Cabernet etc’ varietal spiciness to it that draws you in. Chewy, rugged palate packs plenty of extraction if little in the way of delicacy, the edges raw, the acid blunt and the style rather rustic and old school. Still can’t write it off though and the future should be very kind. Score may look low but there is still plenty of satisfaction in it’s ‘meatlovers pizza now’ mode (particularly for $15). 16/87+