2013 Perillo, Taurasi DOCG

Nicknamed “The Barolo of the South” for its powerful, long-aged reds, the southern Italian region of Taurasi belongs in the same collectible conversation as Cru Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Top Growth Bordeaux, and Cru Burgundy. This over-a-decade-old Aglianico release is a textbook example of the category for a relatively affordable price. The Perillo family did the cellaring for you and now this wine just made it stateside. The Taurasi appellation is in central Campania, a solid hour east of Naples, where the landscape rises toward the Apennine mountains that form the spine of the Italian peninsula. Historically, this has been the most important red wine appellation in all of southern Italy. We’ll argue that Aglianico is Italy’s third noble grape variety, following Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.  The Perillo Taurasi is no stranger to SommSelect and it always delivers after an hour decant.  This is a brooding, exceptionally powerful red wine from a grape that turns everything up to 11—bi