Quintodecimo Terra d'Eclano Aglianico DOC Irpinia 2023
Quintodecimo Terra d'Eclano Aglianico DOC Irpinia 2023
Our Tasting Note
Deep ruby red with red-tinged edges. The pronounced nose rises effortlessly from the glass, filling it with aromas of raspberry, currant, ink, pencil lead, a touch of smoke, and a brooding scorched-earth character. The medium-plus body and tannins provide structure and backbone on the palate, while very good acidity keeps the wine fresh and energetic. Deep, primary, and youthful flavors carry through to a long, structured, and vibrant finish. Superb once again in 2023.
For the 2022, 2023 has not yet been rated:
93 pts Vinous Media (Eric Guido)
Drinking Window: 2026-2031
The 2022 Aglianico Terra d'Eclano is impossible to ignore, with a seductive burst of black raspberries combining with cedar spice box and violet pastille. Silken and serene, it sweeps across the palate with ripe red and blue fruit complemented by nuances of sweet mint and lavender. Hints of blood orange mix with dried rosemary and a bitter cacao tinge as this tapers off long and gently tannic. The 2022 turns the pleasure dial to the max while maintaining remarkable balance. Bravo. - By Eric Guido on September 2025
Terra d’Eclano is produced with grapes from five of our own separate vineyards entirely with Aglianico grapes. It is a seductive and elegant wine with complex aromas of berries, plums, licorice, and coffee. It has an enveloping structure with soft and silky tannins and a long finish with freshness and elegant mineral prevailing along with notes of balsamic and spices. The high complexity and the deep structure of Aglianico, grown directly in the vineyards, give terre d’eclano an extraordinary ability for long ageing in the bottle.
Grape: Aglianico 100% from various parcels of the estate planted in 2001.
Exposure: South/East, South/West, North/West, 420-460 meters asl
Soils: Clay and volcanic
Viticulture: 5000 vines per hectare. Simple horizontal espalier with pruning spurred cordon. Manual harvest in small 15 kg boxes
Winemaking: After careful pre-and post-destemming sorting the pressed grapes ferment for 15-20 days at a temperature of 28-30° C.
Elevage: Subsequently, a 12-month Elevage is carried out in oak barriques, 50% new.
Terroir
Terra d’Eclano comes from a single estate vineyard in Mirabella Eclano, the heart of Irpinia, where Aglianico expresses both power and refinement. The vines are planted at around 420 meters above sea level on gently rolling hills with south and southwest exposures, ensuring full ripening while retaining aromatic lift. The soils are deep clay-loam with volcanic ash and pumice deposits, rich in minerals yet capable of holding water to sustain the vines through the warm summers. A combination of high elevation, consistent breezes, and large diurnal temperature shifts produces grapes of exceptional concentration and balance.
Vinification
Harvested entirely by hand in late October to allow for complete phenolic maturity, the grapes undergo careful selection in both vineyard and cellar. After destemming, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with long macerations to extract color, tannin, and aromatic depth. The wine is then aged for approximately 18 months in a combination of new and used French oak barriques, followed by additional time in bottle before release. This approach preserves Aglianico’s natural structure while softening its youthful firmness.
Serving & Pairing
Serve at 16–18 °C. Terra d’Eclano is a natural partner for grilled lamb, braised short ribs, wild boar ragù, or aged caciocavallo cheese. Its concentration and balance also give it impressive cellaring potential—10–15 years in a proper cellar will yield greater complexity and a silkier texture.