Salvatore
Molettieri
“A new wave of wines from Campania that showcase how special the Aglianico grape can be.” – Robert Parker, Jr.
“This house will be a prime source of superior aglianico for years
to come… Salvatore Molettieri and his sons take risks for greater
ripeness and quality.” -– Stephen Tanzer, IWC
“Molettieri owns some of the best-located vineyards in Taurasi and
his wines are textbook, uncompromising examples of what Aglianico can
do here.” –- Stephen Tanzer, IWC
Molettieri’s vineyards are located in the finest sub-zone for
Taurasi Aglianico production, Montemarano; production is entirely
biodynamic at this tiny family-run estate (the family even mills flour
from their own wheat fields to produce bread!) At these high-altitude
vineyards, harvest often does not take place until mid-November, and
sometimes under snow. Current releases from Molettieri include the
stunning Riserva 1997, in addition to the great 1998 “normale” releases
and very limited quantites of magnums of both the normale and the
Riserva 1997. These richly fruited purple-black wines are of
unbelievable concentration and complexity with almost silt-fine tannins
– not for the shy wine-dabbler, but mandatory for the true Italian wine
lover. For delicious drinking at an earlier stage, the Irpinia
Aglianico is an intense mouthful at a fantastic price (Tanzer called it
“almost too good for its category.”) Robert Parker Jr. called the 1997
Molettieri Taurasi “The finest Taurasi I have tasted since the 1968
Mastroberardino.”
Molettieri is a practicing organic winery. Integrated insect and
disease control is followed and copper and sulfur-based products are
used in accordance with organic standards. Organic fertilizers,
primarily manure, add nutritients to the soil. Molettieri uses no
herbicides, fungicides or insecticides - the high altitude of the
vineyards ensures breezy, dry air, making molds a rare occurance.
Minimal doses of SO2 are added to the wines to ensure freshness and
quality.
THE WINES BACK
