Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva :
[mahs-t(l)ro beh-(l)rah-dee-no tah-oo-(l)rah-zee ree-sehr-vah]

Mastroberardino’s 1968 Taurasi Riserva is the estate’s most historically significant bottling, a reputation that is fully recognized by its status as one of Italy’s landmark wines. In 1980, the historic winery and cellars (first constructed in 1700) were damaged by an earthquake, but restoration incited a complete renovation of the winery, a structure that is now one of the region’s most recognized symbols. This tumultuous event also inspired the family to formally recognize the extent of its fastidious research by sourcing its Taurasi bottling exclusively from one vineyard, the 100-acre Mirabella site, which possesses a clay-calcerous soil that is particularly conducive to the growth of Aglianico. The family rechristened the wine Taurasi Radici Riserva for its 1986 debut, with Radici (“roots”) signifying the Mastroberardinos’ intimate connection to the region and its varietals. The Mastroberardinos first began to cultivate this site— which is situated at an elevation ranging from 1,150 to 1,300 feet—in the 1980s, undertaking subsequent plantings in both the ’90s and early period of the decade immediately following.

Hand selection of the grapes commences in late October and is generally completed in early November. The maceration period is conducted in stainless steel tanks and transpires over the course of three weeks. Thereafter, the Riserva is aged for 30 months in a combination of Slavonian oak and French oak barrique and is refined in bottle for an additional 18 months.

While the profile of a given Taurasi necessarily reflects vintage variations, it is typically pronounced on the nose, delivering an aromatic cachet comprising cherry, tar, a floral dimension, and berry fruit. The full-bodied palate is denoted by dark fruit, ash, minerality, and black pepper. Exhibiting both structural savvy and elegance, a Taurasi Riserva generally evolves over the course of several years, with a fully matured bottling revealing pronounced flavors of licorice and tar. It is produced in exceedingly limited quantities, with the imported case total averaging a mere 33.