Italy

Cirò

Medium

Cork

The characterful Gaglioppo grape of Cirò isn’t easy to work with but producers like Calabretta show just how good it can be when oak is restrained and its aromatics are embraced. A word of warning, though: it is not about fruit. Gaglioppo is a grape for those who like their wines spicy, dusty, and with a little al dente tannic chew; for wine drinkers who want hinterlands of flavour rather than upfront fruit. This smells of hot terracotta in the southern sun, dried orange zest, and the minty dustiness of nutmeg. If you look hard you’ll find fresh tomato and pomegranate seeds but Cirò is not a fruit bowl wine. Texturally fine, this has crisp acidity and tannins textured like laid writing paper.

Gaglioppo

Cataldo Calabretta, Cirò, Rosso Classico Superiore, Calabria, Italy, 2022

DEC321.southern_italy.07_cataldo_calabretta_ciro_rosso_classico_superiore_2022.jpg

The characterful Gaglioppo grape of Cirò isn’t easy to work with but producers like Calabretta show just how good it can be when

Cataldo Calabretta, Cirò, Rosso Classico Superiore, Calabria, Italy, 2022

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