Feudi di San Gregorio has been one of our favorite wineries for a long time. At first we fell in love with their mineral-drenched whites, but when we popped open the cellar and found three bottles of a 1997 "Serpico," we couldn't resist giving one a try.
1997 Feudi di San Gregorio "Serpico" — $85
Feudi di San Gregorio is the landmark producer of a small Italian region called Irpinia. This lush, densely-forested sub-zone of Campania lies very near Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast. Their reds are constructed around the smoldering Aglianico, a fascinating and age-worthy red grape native to southern Italy. "Serpico" is their flagship bottle. This powerhouse red trades at half the price of its counterparts in northern Italy, simply because it's from Irpinia and not Barolo.
In the glass, it did not disappoint. Rich, smokey tones of black pepper and chocolate-covered cherry melt into a smooth but still gritty tannin structure. There are shades here of some of the great wines of the Northern Rhône. This is a delicious and memorable bottle of wine, priced lower than your average Napa Cabernet, and drinking like a charm. Only 2 bottles available. --SOLD OUT