Agnanum - Vigna delle Volpi Piedirosso Campi Flegrei, 2016
The Agnanum winery was founded in 1960 by Gennaro Moccia. It’s located within the Astroni Nature Reserve in Agnano, in the heart of the Campi Flegrei district. Agnanum is the ancient name of Agnano. The Moccia family pride themselves on their traditional methods, ranging from manual harvesting, meticulous selection of the grapes and care in handling the wine in its journey from vine to glass.
“Vigna delle Volpi” literally means “foxes’ vineyard”. This plot of land is the highest part of the Moccia’s holdings. Within the vine rows, the foxes that inhabit the natural reserve are routinely spotted feeding upon the ripe Piedirosso grape clusters – hence the vineyard’s name. After fermentation, the wine rests in small oak barrels for around 8 months before release.
In the glass, the wine has a ruby hue, starting to veer towards garnet. Medium intensity of colour.
On the nose, this “Vigna delle Volpi” features a pronounced intensity of flavours. The dense fruity attack is thrilling with notes of juicy black plums and damson intertwining with violet and brushwood. Underneath the glorious black fruit notes are suggestions of earth, juniper and myrtle with touches of toast and oriental spices. All wrapped by a lovely graphite minerality. Very aromatic and perfumed.
On the palate, the wine is medium to full in body, with a velvety mouthfeel and fine (medium+) tannins. The fruity attack (black plums, red and black cherry) gives way to a fragrant mid-palate, with hints of laurel, dried oregano, autumn leaves, dried tea, toast and the omnipresent graphite minerality that lingers to the end. The herbal component is more evident on the palate. Medium to long finish.
This lovely wine combines dense fruit flavours with a slender structure. Its lovely texture and svelte acidity preserve the wine’s overarching finesse.