Paternoster
Whether you are a seasoned enophile or
just beginning to explore, you will appreciate the range
of the firmly structured Aglianico has across Campania and
Basilicata. Here the Aglianico has been crowned the Nebbiolo
of the South and achieves its glory in Campania's Taurasi.
However, across the volcanic range that divides the neighboring
regions, there are a few producers that have brought out
the collectible qualities in the ancient grape that dates
back to early as 700 B.C.
This historic estate has produced outstanding
Aglianico for three generations now. It was Anselmo Paternoster
who started the family in viticulture back in 1925, when
he saw potential where others just saw poverty in the little
town of Barile. Then it was Giuseppe Paternoster who always
generously extended his knowledge to the entire zone and,
like Basilicata's other great traditionalist D'Angelo, he
deserves respect for having put the remote appellation of
Aglianico del Vulture on the radar of wine enthusiasts worldwide.
Now Vito Paternoster is the leading force, with his father
actively developing an important program to replant the
vineyards. Vito decided to really improve the status of
this estate back in the late 1990's, when he chose to lower
yields for greater concentration, shorten the maceration
period to rid the wine of rough tannins, and improve grape
selection, thereby revamping the entire operation. Paternoster
is famous for two different but equally important expressions
of Aglianico, each marking the identity of a generation:
the Rotondo is an innovative modern wine and the Don Anselmo
more traditional but just as rewarding.
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