Vineyards Magazine

Visiting Vùlture, in the province of Potenza, on the border of Irpinia and northern Puglia, seems to the eye an enormous vulture seems to dominate its surrounding towns, among them the small hamlet of the little village of Barile, with its houses huddled up against each other. In this area, and in particular at Barile, perched at elevations that already feel mountain-like, and with its black volcanic soils, the Aglianico grape has found an ideal habitat to express fully its complexity and power.

The winery’s primary wine bears an important name, Basiliskos. Meaning “little king” in Greek, it was the title in the 13^th century for the Governor of Basilicata, “Terra del Re” (Land of the King), then under Byzantine rule. Going to create Basilisco are grapes from the Storico vineyard and the first quality-selection from the other estate Agliano vineyards, a total of 4 hectares, which barely yield 50 quintals per hectare.

The winery was established in the early 1990s, so it can boast a couple of decades and more of experience. These vines, and the remainder of the estate vineyards, with a total of 24 hectares planted just to the area’s “royal” grape, variety, yield Aglianico del Vulture.

We tasted: Basilisco

A wine produced from Aglianico del Vulture DOC from a volcanic, tuffaceous, clayey soil. The ageing is of 12 – 15 months in French oak barriques. It is a a very structered and powerful wine, ruby-red coloured with deep-purple nuances. It has a complex balsamic aroma with scent of soft fruits, plums, blackberries and cherries. It is definitely elegant and with a long textural finish.