Press

• Score: 91 Vintage 2016 Wine Spectator Creamy tannins frame this well-integrated red, defining flavors of sun-dried cherry and plum skin, minerally leather and iron, dried flowers, tobacco and chopped rosemary. Fresh and lingering on the spiced finish. Best from 2026 through 2034. 2,000 cases made, 640 cases imported Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2015 Vinous Media Musky black currants and steeped plums meet complicating notes of damp earth, ash and spiced citrus as the 2015 Taurasi Fatica Contadina comes to life in the glass. This displays silken textures and polished red and black fruits, invigorated by zesty acidity and hints of sour citrus. The 2015 tapers off with intensity, structured and long with penetrating tannins, leaving cedary spice and blood orange tones that saturate the senses. It will be years before these aggressive tannins resolve, yet with all of the complexity within, I hope to be able to revisit the 2015 once they do. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2015 Wine Spectator A robust red, with hints of date, fig cake and cocoa powder accenting dried cherry and cranberry fruit. Boasts [i]balsamico[n] acidity that makes for a lively tang throughout the rich profile, with firm, chalky tannins on a finish marked by leather, mineral and spices. Drink now through 2035. 2,000 cases made, 640 cases imported. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 89 Vintage 2015 Wine Advocate This wine gave me some trouble partly because the rich and exuberant nature of the raisiny fruit in this vintage makes it harder to see the finer nuances. The 2015 Taurasi Fatica Contadina shows mature and evolved notes of black fruit, dried apple skin, spice, tarry smoke and campfire ash. There is some grilled tarragon as well heavier notes of smoked meat and cured tobacco. The open-knit approach is oxidative, and the tannins are still quite aggressive. This is a production of 20,000 bottles. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 93 Vintage 2014 James Suckling A brooding, yet well-aged Taurasi with lots of bark, Chinese herbal medicine and black mushrooms to the dried blackberries, tar and savory cocoa powder. The complete dryness of the sweet fruit, plus the firm, dusty tannins complement the complex palate. Lots of earthy, dark mushroom notes chime in at the finish, leaving a lingering, savory yet elegant aftertaste. Nothing plush nor opulent, but rather mature, traditional and reserved. Very lovely now, but can drink through to 2025. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 91 Vintage 2014 Wine Advocate This is an interesting wine that defies the low expectations of this challenging vintage to deliver plenty of unexpected richness and dark fruit. The 2014 Taurasi Fatica Contadina is more concentrated and intense than I would have anticipated, showing deep layers of dark cherry and blackberry. Those aromas are quite smooth. However, the wine takes a different turn in the palate, where it shows some bitterness and textural grittiness that comes with age. I like the nose of this vintage but am less enthusiastic about the mouthfeel. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 90 Vintage 2014 Vinous Media The 2014 Taurasi Fatica Contadina is earthy in the best possible way, with masses of crushed ashen stone, musky black currants, tobacco and dusty clove. It's soft-textured, showing the femininity of the vintage, with tart wild berry fruits and wild citrus tones offset by a core of zesty acidity. The 2014 finishes lightly tannic and a bit short, but still fully satisfying, as savory spice and herbal tones fade. This is a successful Taurasi in the context of the vintage. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 93 Vintage 2013 Wine Advocate This is a delicate and carefully aged expression of Aglianico from one of the most experienced and influential wine producers of the area. The Terredora di Paolo 2013 Taurasi Fatica Contadina delivers plenty of dark fruit and measured spice, and it also shows a mildly creamy side with white chocolate or yogurt-covered almonds. The mouthfeel is sharp and tight, with good structure and dusty tannins. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2013 Wine Spectator Warm spice and violet accents are an aromatic entry for this finely-knit, medium- to full-bodied red, playing off notes of plumped cherry, fig cake and dried dill and thyme. Lightly mouthwatering, with minerally hints of iron and tar expanding on the sculpted finish. Drink now through 2030. 2,150 cases made, 650 cases imported.  Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2013 James Suckling A subtle, balanced Taurasi with delicate cherry, walnut and dried-meat aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Really creamy texture with resolved tannins. Drink now or hold. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 89 Vintage 2013 Vinous Media At first, the nose in the 2013 Taurasi Fatica Contadina is dark and rich, showing alluring florals, tobacco, and black cherry; yet with time, hints of spiced citrus and rosemary add an airy lift. On the palate, velvety textures are contrasted by cool-toned minerality, as a cascade of citrus-infused black fruits flow across the senses. The finish is long and angular, with grippy tannins wrestling brisk acids, as tart black fruits and dark inner florals slowly dissipate. The 2013 Fatica Contadina has its moments in the glass, particularly on the bouquet, yet it loses my attention a bit with its monolithic expression on the palate. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2012 James Suckling This plush Taurasi still has a lot of life left as it leads with notes of dried elderberries, dried meat, steak tartare, cigar box and dried cedar. Full-bodied, tannic and earthy, it is an uncompromising style of red with enormous concentration, but some verve on the long, chewy finish. Drink from 2023. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2012 Wine Spectator Firm and focused, a tightly meshed red offering layers of dried cherry, a savory undertow of tarry mineral and leather, and accents of dried herb and mandarin orange peel. Long and chewy on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2029. 2,166 cases made, 280 cases imported. –AN Shelf Talker Full Page Review