Taurasi Riserva Stilema Mastroberardino 2016 (750ML)

95 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous: "The 2016 Taurasi Riserva Stilèma is a profoundly sensual wine. Keep the glass swirling to unlock depths of sour cherry and red plum, complicated by hints of spice cake and a dusting of clove. It’s seamlessly silky and suave, with a textural wave of polished blackberries and currants underscored by saline minerals. There’s a density within, neatly balanced with vibrant acidity, as chiseled tannins slowly take hold. The 2016 finishes with decent length yet a bit backward today, ending with savory herbal and sour citrus nuances. In a very short time, the Taurasi Riserva Stilèma has established itself as one of the top wines in the Mastroberardino portfolio." 04/23

94 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "This is a very refined expression of aglianico with clean red-fruit character. With aeration, additional notes of pressed flowers, scorched orange rind and dark chocolate come through to create a complex whole. Medium- to full-bodied with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Delicious. Drink or hold." 12/22

96 Points, Monica Larner, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Here's another new Riserva added to the Mastroberardino portfolio of fine wines. The 2016 Taurasi Riserva Stiléma is a heritage wine or a reinterpretation of a traditional wine that pays homage to some of the great bottles of yesteryear with shorter maceration times for moderate phenolic extraction and the use of neutral French and Slavonian oak that prize elegance over power. This streamlined and polished wine reveals dark fruit, cardamom, cured tobacco and tertiary aromas of licorice and tar that are just beginning to show. However, despite the wine's age, you taste the transparency of the fruit: pulp, skins, stems and all." 10/22