Ashen soils, crushed stone, animal musk, plum and exotic savory spices can all be found in the dark and sultry 2016 Aglianico Riserva Contado. It's velvety yet not weighty, energized by bright acidity with tart black fruits, minerals and grippy tannins that saturate the senses. These are unseen depths here which are currently restrained by Contado's hulking structure, yet there's also a harmony that tempts the imagination as to what's to come. Currants, wild herbs, salted licorice and hints of tobacco linger long. This is a like a well-muscled stallion, yet it needs some time in the cellar to soften.\n Producer Information\n Di Majo Norante is an Italian wine producer situated in Molise. It was founded by the Di Majo family in the early 1800s, and specializes in the regional wines of Molise and some of its key subregions – Biferno, Tintilia del Molise and Terre degli Osci. The estate comprises 85 hectares (210 acres) of vineyards planted to a range of white grape varieties including Falanghina, Greco Bianco, Bombino Bianco and Moscato, as well as several red wine grape varieties such as Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Tintilia and Aglianico. The vineyards are generally planted on sandy soils and are cultivated with organic agricultural methods using organic fertilizers and parasite control. The Di Majo Norante portfolio is focused predominantly on Molise DOC-classified wines, including the estate's flagship red wine, Don Luigi. This Riserva label is made from a blend of 90 percent Montepulciano and 10 percent Aglianico grapes grown on a six-hectare (15-acre) vineyard plot with vines that average over 15 years old. The Don Luigi wine is macerated in contact with its lees for one month and then aged for 12 months in oak barriques, and spends another six months in bottle before release. In addition to its regional still red and white wines, Di Majo Norante also produces a rosé, spumante and sweet Moscato-based wine.
