Italiano
Tenuta Augustea, the soul of Vesuvio
Little jewel of heroic viticulture in Somma Vesuviana which focused on the search of typicality thanks to ancient vineyards almost exclusively cultivated ungrafted.
The Augustan villa of Roman times, behind the winery, is the background of the beauty of the landscape, where on one side there is the Vesuvius and on the other side there is the villa which was the residence of emperor Octavian Augustus, and where the view stretches up to the coast of the Gulf of Naples, a view which represents a taste of wonderful landscapes.
Winemakers for four generations in Somma Vesuviana, the Nocerino family marks time through wine, an integral part of the culture of the territory and of the roots of Tenuta Augustea, rib of the historical Nocerino Vini, managed today by Vincenzo Nocerino, together with his father Angelo.
This little jewel of heroic viticulture, unique in its kind (it is common to all the producers of the Vesuvian area for the manual work, because of the slopes and the presence of lava stones in the vineyards, which make mechanization impossible) has aimed to extreme quality and to the research of typicality, starting from a small vineyard on Mount Somma, under Punta Nasone, the highest peak of the volcanic massif: home of biodiversity, uncontaminated place, where grapes grow on volcanic soils.
Ten fractioned hectares, ranging from 200 to 650 meters of altitude, forming a puzzle of vineyards almost exclusively planted with "piede franco", where Catalanesca and Caprettone grapes (local biotypes) give their best, so that they have no secrets for Tenuta Augustea. But it is at Madonna della Gavete vineyard, at 450 meters (1325 feet) in the Vesuvius National Park, that the beauty of vineyards is fully expressed.
A wild context, with the presence of woods surrounding the rows of vines, with lapilli and pumice forming the natural carpet where vines are planted, here Falanghina grapes, which found their habitat, whereas Caprettone expresses itself in its fullness a few meters higher, towards the top of the mouth of Vesuvius, grasping from the crater its double soul: grumpiness and gentleness.
Piedirosso and Aglianico grapes on this soil inherit a particular charm, which they show through the scents of Mediterranean scrub and smoky notes, which are a trait d'union with the volcano.
Wines which do not fear time and that the years of aging in bottle (both for white and red wines) make them wonderful and bearers of an incredible typicality.
Lacryma Christi (the Doc of Vesuvius) is not by chance a sought-after and renowned wine all over the world. Tenuta Augustea produces two very interesting versions of it. If you have the chance, I suggest you to taste vintages with some years on their shoulders, because only in this way it is possible to know the potentialities of the territory and the production philosophy of Tenuta Augustea winery. Echoing the editorial of a couple of months ago by director Daniele Cernilli: "Message in a bottle", the Vesuvio wines of Nocerino family are exactly bottles of territory.
Cataluna del Monte Somma 2020
91/100 - € 17,50
100% Catalanesca. Stainless steel.
Bright straw yellow. The scents of broom and apricot are added to the citrus note, while on the palate emerge salinity and freshness from the first class, resting on a solid structure. The closure shows an iodine nuance.
Cataluna del Monte Somma 2017
93/100 - € 17,50
100% Catalanesca. Stainless steel.
Bright straw yellow. The scents of broom and apricot are added to the citrus note, while on the palate emerge salinity and freshness from the first class, resting on a solid structure. The closure shows an iodine nuance.
Vesuvio Caprettone Pietrargento 2020
90/100 - € 17,00
100% Caprettone grown at 500 meters asl. Acciaio.
Luminous straw yellow. Rich and variegated nose with scents of peach, tangerine, chamomile and wild herbs. In the mouth it remains fresh and vertical with an aromatic perception of yellow fruit and mint. A wine of high altitude, sharp, vigorous and with a clear reference to hydrocarbons.
Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco Era79 2020
90/100 - € 16,20
Caprettone 80% and falanghina 20%. Stainless steel.
Bright greenish straw yellow. Sage and basil lead the way to notes of yellow fruit and hints of wisteria and broom. On the palate the sapidity is in balance with the freshness, closing with a pleasant return of apricots.
Vesuvio Piedirosso Casamale 2020
89/100 - € 15,80
100% Piedirosso. Stainless steel.
Ruby red. The nose begins with aromas of blueberries and blackberries, then cherry and tomato leaf. Flavoriness up front that gives way to an iodine hint and freshness. Very young, I would still leave it aside.
Vesuvio Piedirosso Casamale 2017
92/100 - € 15,80
100% Piedirosso. Stainless steel.
Bright ruby-garnet color and a wide range of aromas of berries such as blueberries, plums, chestnuts, then toasted notes of coffee, smoked and hints of humus. Taste in great balance between the components of freshness and flavor, which highlight the elegance of the wine and the long persistence enriched by an unexpected vigor.
