Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore, A Vita - 2016

Here is a wine with a distinct, alluring character that dates back to antiquity. Calabria, like much of Southern Italy, has a unique history of winemaking. First settled by the Oenotrians ("wine cultivators") around 1500 BC, Greek city-states eventually sprung up along the coasts. The premier red wine is produced in the Ciro DOC, made primarily from the indigenous Gaglioppo grape. Legend has it, Ciro wine was awarded to winners of the ancient Olympic games. A Vita's vineyards sit at the slope of a hill just above the town of Ciro Marina on the Ionian coast. The wine is a pale geranium color with aromas of poppies, roses, eucalyptus, and tasting notes of clay, red cherries, and tea leaves. Very powerful tannins with a dry terracotta quality that recall its ancient roots. Far superior than its initial appearance suggests.