2016 Cantina Madonna delle Grazie Aglianico del Vulture DOC "Liscone"

Cantina Madonna delle Grazie is a very small, family run winery located in the Venosa district.  Michele and his father are responsible for planting and maintaining the family’s historic vineyard collection planted exclusively to ancient massal selections—vine cuttings of unique, heirloom biotypes. Because of their work, few can boast the old age and genetic value of the Latoracca vineyards.

The Latoracca’s principal vineyard, Liscone, is home to their top three Aglianico del Vulture wines: Liscone DOC, Bauccio DOC and Drogone DOCG, all grown within rows of each other. Black to dark brown volcanic clay soil dominates, with varying levels of topsoil depth and soil grain composition of stones, sand and clay. Grapes destined for “Liscone” come from areas of dark/black clay and coarse sand and extremely friable (crumbly) tuff. 

The winemaking is minimal intervention- natural yeast fermentation, low sulfur additions. Might be best to give this wine 30min to open up for it to show you its brambly fruit beyond the initial dusty tannin. While drinking great now, the 2017 Liscone still has a lot of life left in it and can age for at least another 5 years.