“We talked about it in episode 399 and here is your chance to try this outstanding Italian gem of Southern Italy. These wines, made with grapes grown on the extinct volcano of Vulture are earthy, smoky, yet full of dark fruit. They have great tannin and balanced acidity and that makes them ideal with food. The Basilisco is a wonderful example of a fruitier style of this wine. At this price, you can grab a few bottles for a night you’re having southern Italian food and see what my hype is about!”

Elizabeth Schneider, Podcast Host and Author of Wine For Normal People - Wine Spies’ Podcast Partner and Brand Ambassador

Operatives, arm doors and crosscheck, prepare for take-off!

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the crew I ask that you please direct your attention to the screens in front of you as we review this high-flying Aglianico del Vulture deal.

Our panel was in shock. An Aglianico from a dozen vintages ago standing tall and youthful? How could it be? Basilisco being a new producer to us, some research was due, revealing that it’s a project owned by none other than Campania’s iconic Feudi di San Gregorio.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate explains “Basilisco is owned and operated by Campania’s Feudi di San Gregorio. That winery is a Southern Italian pioneer thanks to the focused work being done to identify vineyard crus and process those grapes in individual batches… I am happy to see that the same single-vineyard philosophy is being implemented on the Vulture volcano. Tasting Basilisco is fascinating, helping the taster learn more about the tangible potential of this wine region.”

Wine Enthusiast raves that “The late-ripening Aglianico grape is undoubtedly one of Italy’s great red varieties alongside Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. Often called “Barolo of the South,” this moniker only scratches the surface yet speaks to the variety’s ability to express finesse and pedigree… Some of the most exciting bottlings come from the Vulture region in Basilicata, where vines are planted on the volcanic soils of the dormant Monte Vulture volcano… displaying the hallmark crushed stone minerality typically found in wines from volcanic soils… Aglianico often shows best with a bit of age…”

Zooming further in “It takes a special person to steward some of the most historic vineyards in Italy while also maintaining a winery building constructed in the 16th century that sits above caves dug a century earlier. Viviana Malafarina is exactly the right person for this job… ‘everybody’s trying to go back the past. To go back to the authenticity, to the old days, we are still there in Basilicata’ she says.”

The roots in tradition here are evident from the first whiff to the last sip.

To sum Antonio Galloni’s Vinous writes “Basilisco is located in the heart of Barile, and makes use of the ancient stone caves and cellars that were once carved into the complex mix of volcanic soils that form the region. This winery itself began production in the early 1990s. It was only in 2011 that Feudi di San Gregorio decided to invest in Vulture through Basilisco, while also empowering manager and winemaker Viviana Malafarina to breathe new life into the project. The wines of Basilisco are terroir-driven, sharply delineated, pure, savory, mineral to the core and hard to resist.”

So why resist? – While it lasts at least!

92 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“Basilisco delivers a deeply volcanic expression of Aglianico, with aromas of dried fruit, crushed granite, lead pencil and exotic spice. Thanks to 18 months of oak aging, it also shows supple softness and a velvety texture that gives this usually austere wine an easy approach overall.”