2019 Grifalco Damaschito Aglianico Del Vulture
An Italian Red of Power and Sophistication
June 26, 2025
Aglianico is famed as being the big red grape of southern Italy. The varietal’s wines have a personality of their own: tannic, spicy, and wild, with incredible aging potential. They are at their most distinctive in Basilicata, in the arch of the Italian boot, where the volcanic soils around Mount Vulture accentuate the grape’s character.
After over 20 years of making wine in Tuscany, Fabrizio and Cecilia Piccin found a vineyard of old vines there and founded the Grifalco winery in 2004. They have 16 hectares of organically cultivated vines, deeply rooted on volcanic hillsides between 450 and 580 meters high, with vines up to 80 years old. Each parcel is harvested and vinified separately, resulting in wines that remain true to their distinct terroir.
They consider their Damaschito parcel the best. Its soil is unique. mainly sandy, with a strong presence of iron and manganese, which make up layers of strongly reddish soil interspersed with those of volcanic ash. Its Aglianico is like no other, with mineral texture, fine tannins, polished structure, and balanced finish.
2019 Grifalco ‘Damaschito’ Aglianico Del Vulture
The 2019 Damaschito, Grifalco’s top bottling, starts dark and brooding with classic Aglianico color, aromatics, and boldness. After one sip, the wine immediately transforms, revealing layers of fruit, spice, and smoke, culminating in a long, mineral-rich, finely-tannic finish. Not merely bold, it’s polished and sophisticated.
Aroma: Dark cherry, pomegranate, toasted Mediterranean spices and herbs, smoke, and sandalwood. Mouth: Dark and dry berry fruits, fig, dark cocoa, orange peel, structured and mineral texture, balanced acidity, and very satisfying finish. Built to age nicely over the next 10-15 years. Excellent $41, Case $35
Richard Harmer
FREE DELIVERY!
downtown on orders more than $75;
in Greater Boston on orders more than $199
