Campania (Italy) is a hot region at the moment thanks to the deep, structured wines from Aglianico, juicy reds from Piedirosso, and a slew of unique white grapes. It’s one of those rare regions in the world that makes both whites and reds of all levels.

Tenuta Cavalier Pepe produces around 450,000 bottles from over 60 hectares of vineyards. Angelo and his daughter Milena craft wines from the grapes of Aglianico, Coda di Volpe, Greco, Fiano, and Falanghina. It’s a winery that I had seen around but had never tasted until Grapevine Adventures introduced them to me.

I was pleasantly taken back by all of the wines. The whites have a spine of acidity, the Santa Vara is possibly the finest Falanghina I’ve tasted. Many Aglianicos can be overripe, pruney, and oaky. These reds from Tenuta Cavalier Pepe are the opposite, they play more on the red fruit spectrum – which hits my palate perfectly.

Personally, I’d like to see different labels on the bottles but don’t let that deter you, there’s serious juice inside.

• Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Nestor’ Greco di Tufo 2019

The Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Nestor’ is 100% Greco with an explosive nose. Notes of green apple, white flower, pear, and a touch of white pepper. For a fresh white, there is plenty to love here. There’s a good balance of fruit, minerals, and zestiness. Clean and crisp with a slightly spicy finish. Give me this with some baked white fish all day. Score: 89/100

• Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Santa Vara’ Irpinia Falanghina 2018

The Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Santa Vara’ is a single-vineyard Falanghina that is barrel fermented. The wood integration here is fantastic. Notes of baked apple, white peach, yogurt, and a touch of spice from the barrel. This is an impressive take on this grape. There’s plenty of white fruit but it’s the electricity and spine of acidity that keeps this wine interesting. The barrel just adds a hint of flavor, nothing more. Long and salty finish. This is the most exciting Falanghina that I’ve ever tasted. Score: 92+/100

• Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Brancato’ Fiano di Avellino 2017

The Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Brancato’ is Fiano fermented in both stainless steel and wood. It’s got just the right amount of bottle development now. Notes of basil, lime, white grapefruit, and a touch of natural gas with a hint of baking spice from the barrel. It’s tangy on the palate as the wood doesn’t dominate. A medium-bodied white that finishes as if you had a bowl of grapefruit salad with crushed rocks as the seasoning. Score: 90/100

• Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Santo Stefano’ Irpinia Campi Taurasini 2015

The Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Santo Stefano’ Irpinia Campi Taurasini is Aglianico that was aged in both the barrel and concrete before being released. It’s a clean take on this grape with notes of sour cherry, rose petal, mocha, and black pepper. More medium-bodied and suave than full and jammy. This has plenty of complexity on the palate. It doesn’t show a ton of aged notes and should improve even more with time. Chewy tannins and a long finish. Score: 92+/100

• Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Opera Mia’ Taurasi 2014

The Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘Opera Mia’ Taurasi is 100% Aglianico that’s aged in wood and concrete before bottling. Gorgeous nose of cinnamon, cherry, black licorice, meat, and pepper. The palate is just gorgeous. The fruit and other complexities come together perfectly. This is a full-bodied red but it isn’t huge and jammy, there’s plenty of refinement for a South Italian red. Big, chewy tannins add grip and guide the long finish. This should improve beautifully with time in the bottle. Score: 93+/100

• Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘La Loggia del Cavaliere’ Taurasi Riserva 2013

The Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, ‘La Loggia del Cavaliere’ Taurasi Riserva is 100% Aglianico aged in wood and stainless steel. Notes of black cherry, licorice, meat, black pepper, and sweet cedar. The palate is much more fruiter than the nose. There is a rush of fruit and cherry juice-like acidity. The tannins are still pretty firm here, which suggests the wine will last a long time in the bottle. If you want to have it now, make sure to have some grilled meat nearby. Otherwise, put this in the cellar and watch the magic happen. Score: 94/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Tenuta Cavalier Pepe provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Tenuta Cavalier Pepe: Volcanic Wines With Flair appeared first on Wine Travel.

Volcanic wines are hot right now, thanks to enthusiastic sommeliers and Master of Wine, John Szabo. Italy is full of volcanic regions both in the north and south. In the south, one of these trending regions lies on the foothills of Mt. Vesuvius.

Campania, Italy is home to several volcanic appellations like Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Taburno, Irpinia, and Taurasi. White grapes like Greco, Fiano, and Falanghina in addition to the red wine grape Aglianico are the big stars here. Many producers in Camapnia, like Agricola Bellaria, work with all of the grapes

Agricola Bellaria is a relatively young winery and proprietor Antonio Pepe wants to focus on Aglianico moving forward. He does acknowledge how special the white grape Fiano can be. “Fiano di Avellino is a wine that shows best after two years in the bottle and if it is well-produced, can evolve over the course of 15 years,” he says.

Fiano is possibly my favorite Italian white grape and this effort from Bellaria doesn’t disappoint. I expect light floral aromas and intense mineral notes from the grape, which Bellaria delivers. Their Taurasi is also a present surprise with its core of dark fruit flavors. Here’s a look at my favorites from this set of current releases.

• Agricola Bellaria, ‘Oltre’ Greco di Tufo 2017

The Bellaria, ‘Oltre’ Greco di Tufo is a fresh Greco that saw only stainless steel. This has unique notes of pine, roasted almond, white peach, and a smoky, mineral flavor. This tastes like a volcanic wine through and through. Don’t think bright fruit, think soil, chalk, and even campfire-like flavors. Crispy acidity. This with fresh oysters would be a perfect pairing. Score: 88/100

• Agricola Bellaria, ‘Gold’ Fiano di Avellino 2018

I believe that Fiano is one of Italy’s finest white grapes. The Bellaria, ‘Gold’ Fiano di Avellino saw only stainless steel. Gorgeous notes of white flower, white peach, white pineapple, and a touch of starfruit. On the nose, I would expect a fruity white. The palate delivers a different experience. The wine almost tastes like a bowl of fruit salad mixed with crushed rocks from a local quarry. On the back end, there is an interesting interplay between the lemony acidity and mineral flavors. It’s complex and thought-provoking, not your normal fresh white. Score: 90+/100

• Agricola Bellaria, Taurasi 2012

The Bellaria, Taurasi is 100% Aglianico aged in wood for 12 months. This dark wine has a fantastic nose of dried cherry, plum, cedar, violets, and pepper. It still tastes younger than the vintage would suggest. It doesn’t have the tarry notes I would want in aged Aglianico but the palate is pretty with a good balance of fruit and savory notes. The acidity is high and the tannins here are big, so more time in the bottle would suit it well. Check back in on this in ten years. Score: 91+/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Agricola Bellaria provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Volcanic Wine From Agricola Bellaria appeared first on Wine Travel.