Stilema Taurasi Riserva DOCG

Stilèma Taurasi Riserva DOCG

  • Taurasi DOCG, 
  • Campania, 
  • italy

Latest Awards

  • 93 points James Suckling , October 2021
  • 92 points Wine Advocate , August 2021
Background

The Mastroberardino family, leaders in Italian viticulture, are largely responsible for the revival and elevation of Irpinian and Campanian winemaking post WWII. Much of this work was initiated by Antonio Mastroberardino, the 9th generation, who’s efforts ignited a resurgence in quality red and white wine production in all of Southern Italy. Working primarily with Campania’s ancient, the family has resuscitated would-be extinct grapes into world-class varieties. Increasingly important to Antonio over the course of his career was to preserve and catalogue the traditional viticulture he fought so hard to revive. To remember a pre-war viticulture in Irpinia, when climate, agriculture and industry were less influential and varietal wines displayed stronger provenance and varietal characterization. To realize this dream, Piero, Antonio’s son, and current owner, commenced the Stilèma project in honor of his father. Stilèma, meaning stylistic choice, interprets a style of winemaking that took place in Irpinia from the late 1950s through early 1970s for Aglianico wines and from the 1970s through 1980s for Fiano and Greco wines. In the early 2000s, Piero began a series of planting experiments, using selected clones grown in multiple pre-phylloxera vineyards across Mastroberardino’s estates in Irpinia, as historically done, to ensure nuanced complexity, elegance and finesse. The goal with Stilèma wines is to express the greater Irpinian terroir, rather than specific vineyard sites.

TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES

Aglianico vines for Stilèma Taurasi are selected from four estates: Pietradefusi (350 masl) with clayey soils, Montemarano (600 masl) with clayey-limestone soils, Paternopoli (540 masl), with medium-textured soils with a good balance between clay, silt, and sand; and Mirabella Eclano (400 masl), with medium-textured soils including some sandy sandstones and clay. The vines are 20-years-old. Average planting density is 5,000 plants / ha.

Winemaking & Aging

Manual harvest from end of October through the first 10 days of November. Following a short maceration of 7-8 days at low temperatures, the wine is aged for about 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels (50 hl) and French oak barriques (not first passage). Refinement in bottle for 30 months.

Tasting Notes

Complex fruity and floral aromas, in harmony with spicy nuances, featuring cherry, plum, blackberry, caramel, tobacco, vanilla, leather, and cloves. Fresh, savory, and agile palate with a silky tannic texture that is well-balanced.

96
Points
Editor's Choice

Wild berry, underbrush, tilled earth, leather and blue flower aromas shape the nose of this fragrant, stunning red. The newest Taurasi addition to the firm's already impressive line up, this is focused, terroir-driven and loaded with finesse. It delivers flavors of juicy wild cherry, crushed rasperry, blood orange, star anise and tobacco, framed in lithe, polished tannins and fresh acidity. While already enjoyable, it will also age well for years. Drink through 2030. – K.O.

Wine Enthusiast - June 2019

95
Points

Stilèma (or “style”) is a new line of wines from Mastroberardino that’s grown out of the research and experimentation that Piero Mastroberardino and his father, Antonio, began at the turn of the millennium. Their goal was to produce wines from native varieties in the style that was popular from the late 1950s to the end of the 1970s. The first wine released under the Stilèma project was the 2015 Fiano di Avellino (92 points, W&S 6/19). This aglianico, the second release in the line, is simply gorgeous, and shares more in common with a premier cru Gevrey-Chambertin than a typical Taurasi. A blend of fruit from five vineyards of varying altitudes and soil types, macerated for a week at low temperature, it’s translucent ruby in hue and delicate in its floral scents, with vibrant red-berry flavors laced with soft herb notes and silky tannins. Refined, elegant and beautifully balanced, it’s an exciting Taurasi that may just redefine the category. —S.J.

Wine & Spirits - June 2020

94
Points

The 2015 Taurasi Stilema is dark and animal in nature, flaunting its crushed blackberry, tobacco, savory exotic spices, ashen earth and musky herbal tones. It’s unexpectedly cool-toned and precise, with polished black fruits that envelope its burly Aglianico acidity. Notes of licorice and minerals give way to fine tannins, reminding me that this is an incredibly young Taurasi. Piero Mastroberardino seeks with this bottling to recreate a style that he remembers from his childhood, one which favors earth and spice over fruit, and demonstrates a transparency of Aglianico. I must say that it’s quite impressive, as it is quite an achievement to produce such an elegant wine in the 2015 vintage at only 13% abv. Bravo. -- E.G.

Vinous - May 2020

93
Points

Enticing nose of incense-like spice and hints of dried fruit and ashy minerals. Medium-bodied with a silky tannin framework to support the intense bead of fruit. Refined. I would drink this now, but you can hold, too. -J.S.

James Suckling - October 2021

92
Points

This medium- to full-bodied red is abundantly aromatic, offering bay leaf, orange zest and crushed pink peppercorn accents that are enmeshed with flavors of ripe raspberry and wild strawberry fruit. Defined by a spine of mouthwatering acidity and trim tannins, this is sleek and focused through to the minerally finish. Best from 2022 through 2032.— A.N.

Wine Spectator - October 2020

92
Points

I love the shape of the bottles in this line of wines from Mastroberardino. The 2015 Taurasi Stiléma is a balanced and softly textured expression of Aglianico with ripe cherry, tobacco and grilled herb. Despite the warmth of the 2015 vintage, this wine shows some uncharacteristic elements of herb and rosemary that give the wine a more tangy and nervous personality. Try it alongside a spicy puttanesca. – M.L.

Wine Advocate - August 2021

Appellation

Taurasi DOCG

grape varieties

100% Aglianico

Sizes

750ml

technical details
  • ABV: 13%
  • Closure: Cork
winemaker

Massimo Di Renzo

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