This Granite Belt Aglianico from Meteora Vineyard comes from rows lying just metres from its Montepulciano and Lagrein siblings, and it carries plenty of its varietal dark-fruited character.
Dark cherries, concentrated plums, sour cherries and blackberry pie bring the fruit, with cocoa, dried leaves and tilled earth adding savoury depth. The fruit is focused and neatly bent around the back palate, creating a distinctive U-shaped print. But while the opening shows promise, the fruit presence thins out quicker than expected, leaving the finish feeling a little more exposed than hoped. Dusty, chewy tannins linger, providing plenty to muse over. An intriguing expression with plenty of character, but one that leaves you wanting a little more fruit through the back.
88/100
Region: Granite Belt
