“Elena Fucci is a force… Titolo remains one of the top wines in the region year after year. This is fantastic juice.” – Vinous

What the Fucci! We blew through the 2021 and the 2019 Riserva last year. And today we’re back in action with a fresh Titolo carrying one 93, TWO 94s, and a 95 POINT review for this utterly fantastic 2022 vintage.

Off the charts QPR here. Fun fact - when I brought the previous vintage to a Napa winemaking friend’s house he told me he buys EVERY vintage of it. He had nearly two decades of the stuff!

Hardly surprising though - this is an Aglianico with a cult following and 95 points for $33 makes it a RARE bird, indeed. You cannot call yourself a lover of Italian wines without some. And frankly, anyone who drinks wine should own a few bottles.

Heed Vinous’ wisdom: “There are moments in life when you immediately realize you have stumbled upon something or someone special… I have followed Elena Fucci from the very beginning, and I find them to be powerful yet remarkably refined, with deep aromas and flavors of red cherry, minerals, and botanical herbs obvious in most vintages. The oak is always marvelously integrated. While the wines undoubtedly reflect each vintage’s unique conditions, they also always display a suave mouthfeel that is Titolo’s true signature… Wine lovers owe it to themselves to hunt down Fucci’s knockout Aglianico del Vulture Titolo, as it ranks with the best that Italy has to offer.”

At $33, this wine should officially be declared THE best value of the best from Italy.

Feeling intimidated or wary of Aglianico? If you like your reds deep and rugged and tongue-staining this is for you. With meaty savoriness, wild roasted herbs, and primarily backed by dense, dark fruit, you will absolutely LOVE it. In an ode to this unique volcanic-bred variety, Eric Asimov of New York Times assures that “among its many charms, Aglianico is versatile, and able to make wines that are delicious when young as well as those that can benefit from years, even decades, in the cellar.”

Ian d’Agata of Vinous, in his Native Wine Grapes of Italy book, praises Aglianico; “Along with Nebbiolo and Sangiovese, it is generally believed to be one of Italy’s three best wine grapes, but in my opinion, it is far more: At the very least, it’s one of the world’s dozen or so best wine grapes.”

And Fucci is one of the handful who does it right. Jump on it before it’s too late!

95 Points – Decanter “A refined, elegant expression of Aglianico. Lifted floral aromas of rose and violet are accompanied by fresh cherry scents. The palate is vibrant and energetic; youthful bramble fruit dominates. Still very young, with plenty of grip and notable minerality, this has many years ahead of it. Aged for 12 months in first- and second-use barriques with various levels of toasting. Drink 2027-2035.”

94 Points – Vinous “Elena Fucci is a force. I first met her at a conference in 2021. At the time, Aglianico del Vulture was still new to me, and I had yet to be impressed by a wine from the region. On that day, we tasted her 2012 Titolo, and I listened to a story about a young girl who sought to save her family winery, changed her entire life to learn oenology, and went against convention in a male-dominated industry to show the world what this little corner of Italy was capable of producing. The wine blew me away, and so did her enthusiasm, which, to this day, continues to move the Elena Fucci winery (and the entire region of Vulture) forward. Elena Fucci’s style mixes the Old World with the New with the discreet use of oak in her carbon-neutral cellar. The family continues to be a center focus, with her husband at her side and her father still involved in the vineyards. As for Elena Fucci herself, beyond winemaking, she has worked to become a symbol for the region and its potential, not only concerned with her production and success but also with the success of all producers that bottle Aglianico del Vulture. The cooperation and communication between the smaller producers of Vulture is admirable, and much of it centers around Fucci’s charismatic attitude and constant focus on the region’s future… the flagship 2022 Titolo continues to prove Fucci’s abilities; it’s a classic wine in every sense. It tempts the imagination as a whiff of ash and white smoke blows off to reveal musky black currants, shaved cedar and tangerine zest. This is texturally thrilling, nearly creamy in feel yet energetic. Cooling acidity and a core of ripe black fruits give way to tactile mineral tones. This finishes dramatically long and fresh, with a staining of fine-grained tannins. Licorice and exotic spice percolate through the close. Frankly, I’m amazed that even with the creation of the Superiore, Amphora and Riserva, Elena Fucci’s Titolo remains one of the top wines in the region year after year. This is fantastic juice. Drink 2025-2037.”

94 Points – WineAlign “Perfumed, substantial, complex and engaging, classically Vulture in style with an elegance and refinement that the variety often lacks. Tannins are silky firm, ripe, polished. Depth, length and complexity are excellent - nothing but great things to say about this. Sophisticated and refined, classy stuff. Best from 2028.”

93 Points – Wine Advocate “The organic Elena Fucci 2022 Aglianico del Vulture Titolo (or the so-called “classico” version of her flagship wine) represents a powerful vintage in which fruit ripeness and concentration are on full display. These results are balanced overall yet lean into the bolder side of Vulture winemaking. The wine offers good freshness thanks to high-elevation fruit, but the 2022 vintage is more accessible even upon release. The Titolo vineyard is located at 650 meters in elevation. The wine ferments in stainless steel and ages in barrique for 12 months, followed by 12 months in glass. Drink 2025-2037.”