Re Manfredi - Aglianico Del Vulture Taglio Del Tralcio 2013 Ml. 750

Basilicata, which encapsulates all the varieties of the Italian landscape in just eleven thousand square kilometres, is one of the country's most genuine regions, dominated by mother nature which has never completely surrendered to the march of mankind. Here the vines compete with the more widespread olive for the land. The Mount Vulture volcano, extinct since antiquity, dominates the plateau rising to a height of 1300 metres. Its lava mixed with the soil rich in clay, calcium, nitrogen and tuff, creates a terroir that is unique of its kind in the Mediterranean's winemaking panorama. The component of volcanic origin gives the wine a particular minerality and flavour. The most widespread vine in Basilicata is Aglianico, from the name of the Greek vine, Ellenico or Hellenic. 
Soils of volcanic origin, a special light and a continental climate characterized by very cold winters and hot summers with great temperature swings, beat out the rhythms of the Vulture lands. And it is from this particular and singular terroir in the Mediterranean that unique mineral wines, with marked hints of spices, spring. 
The Vineyards
The entire property enjoys an ideal position at the foot of Mount Vulture and here the vines grow in a very particular microclimate. The vineyards are almost entirely cultivated with the Aglianico vine: 30 ha with twenty-year-old plants trained in Guyot style and 10 ha of ten-year-old vines trained in Spurred Cordons at an altitude of 420 m a.s.l. in the Commune of Venosa. In addition to these is a small part of white grapes, such as Muller and Gewürztraminer, in 20 ha of 5/10 year-old vineyards trained in the Guyot manner at an altitude of 420 m a.s.l. at Pian di Camera in the Commune of Venosa. 
The Serpara vineyard measuring about 6 hectares, three aged over 40 years, extends at 550 m a.s.l. in the Commune of Maschito in Potenza Province. It is here that the selections for the new vines are made and it is from these vines that the Masseria cru that bears its name is produced.
The Winery
Re Manfredi was established in 1998 in the heart of the Aglianico del Vulture DOC production zone just a few kilometres from Venosa, a little town renowned as the birthplace of the Latin poet, Horace. An elegant and welcoming Masseria stands out in the centre of the property which extends over more than 120 hectares of vineyards trained in the Guyot and spurred cordon style. Beside this farmhouse is the dynamic modern Terre degli Svevi winery run by Christian Scrinzi. The company has a modern vinification plant and a prestigious barrique cellar in which the wines age. 
Manfredi
This is a wine that springs from the desire to express Aglianico in a smoother version too, thanks to a particular system for drying the grapes on the plant. Drying takes place using a technique known as "cutting the shoot" which envisages cutting the fruity head when the grapes are ripe. This operation interrupts the flow of sap between the roots and bunches so that the part of the plant that is detached from the trunk for all intents and purposes has to draw water from the grapes themselves for a few days. It is precisely as a result of this particular and natural dehydration phenomenon that the grapes undergo slight drying that concentrates the fruity scents and smoothness of the tannins. It expresses itself with balsamic notes accompanied by hints of cherry and morello preserved in spirits and of persimmon jam. It is smooth on the palate with soft silky and enveloping tannins and a round, lingering and fruity finish accompanied by an engaging light sugary residue as in the style of Re Manfredi.