Montevetrano Core Aglianico 2019

This has an attractive nose of blackberries, olives, charcuterie, peppercorns and cloves. Some iodine and lemon zest. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, spread evenly across the palate, layered with fresh dark fruit and peppery spice notes. Drink or hold.

A sweet mix of violet and lavender engulfs a crushed blackberry core as the aromatically seductive 2019 Rosso Core opens in the glass. It's soft and round in texture, with polished red and black fruits offset by a core of stimulating acidity. This maintains fantastic freshness while finishing lightly structured, with just a hint of sour citrus that punctuates the experience beautifully. This is just about as good as a no-frills Aglianico can get.

A pure expression of Aglianico, the Montevetrano 2019 Core Rosso (with a big read heart on the front label) is a love song from vintner Silvia Imparato to her homeland. This dynamic woman helped to change and modernize the image of Campania wines over the years, and she was among the first to shine a light on the little-known province of Salerno. This is a less formal red wine, engineered for epic nights under the stars with second and third servings of pasta and meat on the grill. The wine is bright and lifted with dark cherry, light spice and a satisfying, food-friendly personality. Production is 20,000 bottles, and the value you get is considerable.