Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva 2017

Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva 2017 is a benchmark southern Italian red that shows just how noble Aglianico can be. Powerful yet refined, it combines impressive structure with layered aromatics that unfold slowly in the glass. First produced in 1986 after extensive research into soil, exposure and microclimates, Radici Riserva has become one of the most prestigious expressions of Irpinian viticulture and Taurasi DOCG.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2017 Radici Riserva is a deep, intense ruby red with garnet highlights at the rim, signaling both concentration and early development. The nose is complex and persistent, offering dark cherry, black plum and blackberry woven with notes of dried rose, violets, leather, tobacco leaf, licorice, sweet spices and a subtle smoky, balsamic edge. On the palate, this is full-bodied and firmly structured, with the hallmark Aglianico tannins: ripe, abundant and finely grained, giving the wine both grip and longevity. Flavors mirror the nose—ripe black fruit layered with cocoa, coffee, clove, and hints of tar and Mediterranean herbs. The acidity is vibrant and lifts the richness, leading to a long, savory and mineral-driven finish. While already enjoyable with a proper decant, the 2017 has significant aging potential and should develop beautifully over 12–20 years from the vintage, gaining even more tertiary nuance and elegance.

Production
Radici Riserva comes from high-altitude vineyards in Irpinia, in the heart of Campania, where Aglianico thrives on volcanic and calcareous-clay soils that impart depth, minerality and tension. The terroir is characterized by cool nights, significant diurnal temperature swings and relatively long growing seasons, which allow for slow, even ripening and preservation of acidity. Grapes are typically harvested by hand, with strict selection in the vineyard and at the winery to ensure only the best Aglianico clusters go into the Riserva. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel, followed by an extended maceration to extract color, tannin and aromatic complexity. The wine then matures for an extended period—traditionally around 30 months—in large oak casks and barriques, followed by additional bottle aging before release, allowing the powerful structure to integrate and the bouquet to evolve.

Food & Serving
This Taurasi is a natural partner for rich, robust dishes such as slow-braised lamb shank, ossobuco, game (wild boar, venison), aged beef, and hearty stews. It also pairs beautifully with mature hard cheeses, truffled dishes, and classic southern Italian fare like ragù Napoletano or pasta with meat-based sauces. Serve at 18°C (64–65°F); for optimal expression, open 1–2 hours in advance and decant to soften the tannins and let the aromatics fully emerge, especially in its youth.

Producer
Mastroberardino is one of the historic and most revered names in southern Italian wine, widely credited with preserving and elevating native Campanian grapes such as Aglianico, Fiano and Greco. Based in Atripalda, in the Irpinia area of Campania, the family has been cultivating vines for more than a century and played a pivotal role in the renaissance of Taurasi and the broader region after the devastation of phylloxera and the Second World War. Their research-driven approach to matching grape varieties with specific soils and exposures led to the creation of Radici in 1986, a wine that helped establish Taurasi as the “Barolo of the South.” Today, Mastroberardino is regarded as a reference-point producer for Taurasi DOCG and for ageworthy, terroir-driven wines from southern Italy.

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