Quintodecimo Fiano d'Avellino Exultet 2025
Quintodecimo Fiano d'Avellino Exultet 2025
(93-95) pts Vinous
Drinking Window 2027 - 2036
The 2025 Exultet is pleasantly rich with seductive scents of Asian pears, white peach, nuances of raw almond and wet stone. It displays amazing balance through its ripe pit fruits, saline minerality and pretty inner florals. A pop of acidity maintains freshness through the remarkably long finish, as a hint of lemon oil fades.
- By Eric Guido on August 2026
The 2021 Taurasis from Quintodecimo are glorious. The vintage’s combination of ripe fruit and structure plays directly into Luigi Moio’s polished, Bordeaux-influenced approach, yielding wines of both power and grace. The 2020 Riserva Grand Cru Luigi Moio is fleshier and more fruit-driven, with sweeter tannins, but it retains excellent balance. Quintodecimo did not produce Taurasi from the difficult 2023 season. Instead, all of the estate’s Aglianico was directed into Terra d’Eclano. The resulting wine lacks the power of Taurasi but rises well above the usual expectations for this bottling. The 2025 whites are also particularly balanced, with excellent acidity. It appears to have been an unusually even growing season, although the reds will provide a fuller picture of the vintage.
Grape: Fiano 100%
Year of vineyard planting: 2004
Altitude: 570 meters
Exposure: Southwest
Soil: Clayey-calcareous
Vineyard of origin: Lapio, planted 2004
Viticulture: Simple horizontal espalier with Guyot pruning. End of September - first ten days of October. Manually picked in small 15 kg boxes
Winemaking: After a long pressing of the whole bunches, the free-run must, strictly protected from oxygen, it is separated from that of the press and clarified by natural sedimentation. Fermentation occurs for the 70% in stainless steel vats and 30% in new oak barriques.
Elevage: Continued an eight-month period of ELEVAGE on fine lees regularly resuspended in the wine.
Terroir
“Exultet” is sourced from high-altitude vineyards in Lapio, one of the most prized communes in the Fiano di Avellino DOCG. At elevations of 570–600 meters above sea level, the vines experience cool nights and a long, steady growing season that promotes slow ripening and remarkable aromatic development. The soils are predominantly clay-limestone with volcanic influences, well-draining yet nutrient-rich, which contribute to the wine’s combination of richness and precision. South and southeast exposures allow for optimal sun capture, while persistent breezes help maintain grape health and freshness until harvest.
Vinification
Hand-harvested in mid-October at full physiological ripeness, the grapes are softly pressed to preserve delicate aromas. Fermentation takes place primarily in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, with a small percentage fermented and aged in new French oak barrels to add a subtle layer of spice and texture. The wine remains on its fine lees for several months, with periodic bâtonnage to build a creamy mid-palate. Bottling occurs the following spring to ensure both aromatic intensity and structural integrity.
Tasting Notes
The 2025 Exultet is a luminous straw-gold with green reflections. The nose is immediately expressive, offering layers of acacia honey, candied citrus peel, white fig, and ripe pear, intertwined with hints of hazelnut, broom flower, and a gentle smoky-mineral nuance. On the palate, it strikes a harmonious balance between opulence and tension—ripe tropical and orchard fruit glide over a backbone of lively acidity, with a fine chalky grip lending shape. The long, elegant finish lingers with notes of lime blossom, almond, and delicate spice.
Serving & Pairing
Serve at 10–12 °C. A versatile gastronomic white, Exultet pairs beautifully with scallops in beurre blanc, baked grouper with herbs, rabbit cacciatore, or pasta with truffle cream. With its structure and natural acidity, it also shows outstanding aging potential—over 8–10 years it will develop honeyed, nutty complexity while retaining its mineral freshness.
