Aglianico del Vulture Le Ralle Alovini 2017 is no longer available

This is a carousel with zoom. Use the thumbnails to navigate, or jump to a slide. Use the zoom button to zoom into a image.

Sold Out

Aglianico del Vulture Le Ralle Alovini 2017

4.071429000 star rating 14 Reviews
Aglianico del Vulture Le Ralle Alovini 2017
is no longer available
Code: IT29951

Wine characteristics

  • Red Wine
  • Medium-bodied
  • Aglianico
  • 13% Alcohol
  • oak used but not v. noticeable
  • Cork, natural

Southern Italy

In ancient times this was the main source of high-quality wines from the peninsula of Italy The Greeks had introduced viniculture through their colonies there and named the bottom half of the peninsula ‘Oenotrai’ or land of wine, and the Romans expanded on the tradition, particularly in the Campania where many wealthy citizens owned vast estates and some of the most famous wines of the empire were made, such as Falernum. Some grape names appear to reflect the Greco-Roman influence (greco, aglianico), though this may be more about folk-memory than fact as there is no ampelographical evidence linking these varieties to any Greek ancient forbears.

Campania itself is the area around Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Naturally there are volcanic soils in the vicinity and as the vineyards climb the Apennines there is altitude to cool the grapes as they ripen. As such there is a balancing freshness to the fruity wines. Greco di Tufo, fiano (especially from Avellino) and falanghina are among the ...
In ancient times this was the main source of high-quality wines from the peninsula of Italy The Greeks had introduced viniculture through their colonies there and named the bottom half of the peninsula ‘Oenotrai’ or land of wine, and the Romans expanded on the tradition, particularly in the Campania where many wealthy citizens owned vast estates and some of the most famous wines of the empire were made, such as Falernum. Some grape names appear to reflect the Greco-Roman influence (greco, aglianico), though this may be more about folk-memory than fact as there is no ampelographical evidence linking these varieties to any Greek ancient forbears.

Campania itself is the area around Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Naturally there are volcanic soils in the vicinity and as the vineyards climb the Apennines there is altitude to cool the grapes as they ripen. As such there is a balancing freshness to the fruity wines. Greco di Tufo, fiano (especially from Avellino) and falanghina are among the best white wines, characterful and perfumed. Of the red varieties it is aglianico that makes the most impressive examples on the volcanic soils of Taurasi, though there is potential promised and realized in other varieties like piedirosso.

There are excellent aglianico wines from Basilicata, the once impoverished region on the instep of the Italian boot. Inland on the border with Puglia, round the extinct volcano of Monte Vulture, the aglianico grape performs admirably to produce powerful ageworthy red wines that retain a thread of finesse.

Calabria is the toe of the boot, and another region of limited economic development in recent decades. From one end of the province to the other mountains form a spine and, unlike in Campania, the vineyards producing the best wines are on the flat. In particular the DOC of Cirò on the Gulf of Taranto in the east of the province produces perfumed red wines from the indigenous gaglioppo grape.

Across the Apennines on the Adriatic coast lies Puglia, a region that has begun to overcome a longstanding reputation for producing wines for bulk export but is now producing a range of fascinating good-value red wines from varieties like negroamaro, primitivo (aka zinfandel in California) and uva di troia. In the right hands all of them are capable of making very fine wines with plenty of ripe fruit, concentration and structure but without the overpowering alcohols that a hot climate and indifferent winemaking once routinely produced. They are also often excellent value. Puglia is largely flat, almost table-like lacking the softening effects of altitude must rely on the air conditioning of the sea and the skill of the winemaker to make balanced wines. Vines are consistently bush trained to retain shade and moisture. The best wines come from the Salento peninsula where the sea is on three sides and the best producers reside. Full-bodied negroamaro from Brindisi and Copertino and primitivo from soils underpinned by limestone in Manduria can be excellent Whites tend to be greco, fiano and minutolo, and there are some well-flavoured rosé wines as a speciality of the region. Whites too are now catching up in quality.

Sicily has shown itself to be one of the most forward thinking Italian regions in recent years, with an awakening pride in the quality that can be achieved on this hot, socially complex and culturally saturated island. Sicily was once famous for the fortified Marsala wines that Nelson bought to victual his Mediterranean fleet, but as this fame and the sales that went with it dwindled many producers recognised that there was a need to produce table wines of greater quality. Bulk wine still leaves the island in tankers but there has been something of a revolution in viticulture and viniculture and Sicily now produces some of Italy’s best and most interesting wines. Nero d’Avola has been a conspicuous success, and makes everything from fruity entry-level reds to powerful, ripe and structured reds that can age and is often a major component in high-quality blends with syrah, cabernet and merlot. Mount Etna is a source of fine reds and whites of depth, finesse and zest, grown on the slopes of the famous volcano. Altitude and volcanic soils provide excellent conditions for the local nerello mascalese, nerello cappuccio and carricante (a white grape) vines. The white former mainstays of Marsala production cataratto and grillo are being given their head by winemakers who want them to shine alone and shine they do. Finally there has been a renaissance of interest in the intense, sweet muscat wines of the island of Pantelleria, an island closer to Tunisia than Sicily.

Sardinia, until 1708 a Spanish possession, grows several vines that reflect an Iberian heritage. Graciano and mazuelo grow here as bovale sardo and boval grande respectively. Cannonau is grenache/garnacha by another less Spanish name. The grape that the island has exported to other parts is vermentino from which its finest, aromatic and flavoursome whites are made. Mazuelo, better known as carignan, makes the islands best reds called carignano del Sulcis.
Read more

Alovini

Based in the southern region of Basilicata – often described as the arch in Italy’s foot – Alovini is owned and run by the accomplished winemaker Oronzo Alò.

He founded the estate in 2003, putting into practice all the knowledge and experience he had gained over many years working for local co-operatives, during which time he had helped to revolutionise the region’s winemaking by updating equipment and methods.

The vineyards here are incredibly picturesque, with both Mount Vulture’s seven peaks and Acerenza’s Norma Basilica looming over the aglianico vines. Signor Alò is a bright and gifted winemaker who combines a deep knowledge and respect for local grape varieties (greco and aglianico in particular) with a modern approach to capturing maximum levels of fruit.

He acknowledges that he learnt a great deal from flying Bordeaux winemaker Jacques Lurton, who made several vintages in the co-operatives where Alò previously worked. The endless stainless-steel tanks, pumps, filters and state-of-the-art bottling lines on view at Alovini are evidence of the owner’s love of all the latest wine wizardry – and he also has a real talent for designing wine labels.

Italy Vintage 2017

2017 was a year that began with trouble, endured spikes of heat and even drought during the summer, and harvested at low yields – about 25% down on average – as a result. However, these trials have led to some high-quality wines from across the country as those low yields led to good quality fruit.

In the north-east, Barolo and Barbaresco it was a difficult vintage to negotiate. Budbreak was early which gave the devastating frosts and hail storms of April something to get their teeth into. Though the summer was warm and dry, with some drought in places, the harvest was considerably down and both Barolo and Barbaresco rely on good winemakers making good choices to achieve good results. Time will tell as the wines mature.

In the Veneto, Valpolicella was not so hard hit by frosts in the Classico area, but yields were nonetheless down after warm dry weather forced an early harvest. The wines are good, in part thanks to low yields.

In Tuscany and central Italy generally it too was a...
2017 was a year that began with trouble, endured spikes of heat and even drought during the summer, and harvested at low yields – about 25% down on average – as a result. However, these trials have led to some high-quality wines from across the country as those low yields led to good quality fruit.

In the north-east, Barolo and Barbaresco it was a difficult vintage to negotiate. Budbreak was early which gave the devastating frosts and hail storms of April something to get their teeth into. Though the summer was warm and dry, with some drought in places, the harvest was considerably down and both Barolo and Barbaresco rely on good winemakers making good choices to achieve good results. Time will tell as the wines mature.

In the Veneto, Valpolicella was not so hard hit by frosts in the Classico area, but yields were nonetheless down after warm dry weather forced an early harvest. The wines are good, in part thanks to low yields.

In Tuscany and central Italy generally it too was a difficult vintage but one that has, by and large, produced rich, intense red wines. The same story prevailed here; frosts, followed by drought-like conditions at times, and low yields. Good winemakers will have avoided overripeness.

The south was hotter still and drought caused difficulties across the region, from Puglia to Sicily. Again, yields were much reduced but quality ended up being very high, particularly for red wines.
Read more

Sunday Telegraph

… smooth, dried fig and bramble-flavoured … -

Susy Atkins

JancisRobinson.com

Pale ruby. Lots of evolution and intrigue on the nose. Brilliant value for winos who would appreciate the development. Very good value.

16/20 Jancis Robinson

midweekwines.co.uk

I was hugely impressedby this from Southern Italy that skilfully uses the weighty and concentrated(but relatively unfamiliar) aglianico grape – which produces red wine sometimescalled the Barolo of...
I was hugely impressedby this from Southern Italy that skilfully uses the weighty and concentrated(but relatively unfamiliar) aglianico grape – which produces red wine sometimescalled the Barolo of the south.[This wine] has firm tannin, good acidity and real depth coupled with hints oftobacco and chocolate that attractively embellish its smooth, cherry, brambleand mulberry flavours.
Read more

- Brian Elliott

The Daily Telegraph

The best red wines tobuy for Christmas 2020: Aglianico can be a beast – acidic, tannic, monumentaland as unyielding as granite. That’s what I like about it but it can make ithard to drink....
The best red wines tobuy for Christmas 2020: Aglianico can be a beast – acidic, tannic, monumentaland as unyielding as granite. That’s what I like about it but it can make ithard to drink. This is a surprisingly approachable version, elegant for aglianicoand redolent of fig wheel and black cherries.
Read more

- Victoria Moore

wineanorak.com

This shows nicefreshness with good structure to the cherry and plum fruit. Nice weight and goodtannins. Compact and structured with lovely purity.

91/100 Jamie Goode

The Times

Patient wine drinkers will have to wait until this one lands on February 26, but The Wine Society is already taking orders for this uplifting, yet brooding red, made from the aglianico grape. It will ...
Patient wine drinkers will have to wait until this one lands on February 26, but The Wine Society is already taking orders for this uplifting, yet brooding red, made from the aglianico grape. It will be worth the wait for this one’s herby, sunny southern Italian spice and red cherry fruit.
Read more

- Jane MacQuitty

midweekwines.co.uk

Aglianico  produces weighty, concentrated, full wine and is sometimes called the Barolo of the south. [This wine] has firm tannin and good acidity with hints of tobacco and chocolate to embellish ...
Aglianico  produces weighty, concentrated, full wine and is sometimes called the Barolo of the south. [This wine] has firm tannin and good acidity with hints of tobacco and chocolate to embellish its smooth cherry, bramble and mulberry flavours.
Read more

- Brian Elliott

Sunday Telegraph

Best spring wines for £10 and under: Aglianico grows in southern Italy. It’s a monumental grape and it can make reds that are as uncompromising as granite. Here’s one that is...
Best spring wines for £10 and under: Aglianico grows in southern Italy. It’s a monumental grape and it can make reds that are as uncompromising as granite. Here’s one that is approachable enough to drink right now. Superb.
Read more

- Victoria Moore

2016 vintage reviews
2006 vintage reviews

Bestselling wines

Back to top