Montevetrano is the red that put modern Campania in the spotlight. Silvia Imparato planted the vineyard in 1985 at San Cipriano Picentino, in the hills behind Salerno, and with her friend, oenologist Riccardo Cotarella, made the first vintage in 1991. Within a few years the wine had become a benchmark for Southern Italy, often mentioned alongside the great Tuscan reds.
It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a share of Aglianico, in proportions that vary with the vintage; the Aglianico gives the Bordeaux blend acidity, tannin and a clear Campanian identity. The wine ages for about a year in French oak barriques before bottling.
The 2012 is now more than ten years old: a mature wine in which black fruit blends with spice, tobacco, graphite and balsamic hints, with soft tannins and still good freshness. With braised meats, game, roast red meats and aged cheeses.
At a glance: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Aglianico · 14% ABV · 0.75 l · Montevetrano, San Cipriano Picentino (SA)