“Some of the most compelling wines being made in Italy today”

– Antonio Galloni

For the past couple of decades, anyone who has covered Italian wine has sung the praises of the Aglianico grape. The simple and apt tagline is the "Barolo of the south."

Calling the grape indisputably noble isn't in the least out of line. Mastroberardino's trio of 1968 Taurasi are held as some of the greatest Italian wines ever and have served as the ideal for Taurasi since they were released.

The sad fact is that despite all of the ink that has been spilled about Taurasi and its Aglianico, few wines have delivered on the grape's promise. Many expressions of the grape seem confused and the greatness of Aglianico comes across as muddled by modern winemaking.

Which is why Lonardo's Taurasi were such a revelation to us. Lonardo captures the beating heart of Taurasi with perfect clarity. Galloni sums up Lonardo really well here: "There are only a handful of wines in the world that are so deeply evocative of a grape, a place and a vintage.”

It's impossible not to highlight the value on offer. To return to the Galloni quote that we opened with, these are incredibly compelling wines that, in the scheme of things, can be had for a song.

The Coste bottling is our favorite from Lonardo's strong line-up. Coste is one of Lonardo's two single vineyard bottlings. It originates from a limestone vineyard, which many feel is the top terroir for Taurasi. In the 2008, it boasts an exceptional purity, precision and mineral drive. The limestone comes across with a distinctive, tightly knit elegance that we love.

There's a rugged nobility to the best Aglianicos and while the 2008 Coste isn't shy on savage beauty, there's a real sense of refinement to the wine. It boasts delineated and nuanced notes of spice, red fruits, flowers, herbs and dark minerality. The combination of acidity, tannin and overall balance promise that this will age well for decades to come.

In a recent feature on the Taurasi, John Gilman calls Taurasi "one of Italy’s best kept secrets" and goes on to say, "Taurasi seems to me to offer a similar value and opportunity for collectors analogous to Barolo and Barbaresco when I was first starting out in the wine trade back in the 1980s." The 2008 Coste represents Taurasi at its best. I strongly advise you to check this out.

To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Ian McFadden

Director, Fine & Rare
Crush Wine & Spirits

2008 Lonardo Taurasi Coste

Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media: "Lonardo's 2008 Taurasi Coste captures the essence of Taurasi at its best. Sweet, layered and deeply expressive in the glass, with striking aromatic delineation, the 2008 is a real standout. Dried flowers, mint, spices, leather and licorice add attractive shades of nuance. The 2008 is showing the first signs of the complexity that is typical of Taurasi but also has enough depth to drink well for a number of years. Today, it is superb."

Special Email 4-Pack Price: $215.80 ($53.95/btl)