Paternoster, Aglianico del Vulture 2020 'Synthesi'

One of our wines of the year (2025), we fell head over heels for the grape but, in particular, this cuvée and vintage, on our trip to the far south of Italy. Robust red with plenty of delicious fruit: blackberries, blueberries, wild berries along with some pepper. Velvet textured with fabulous tannins. Paternoster says it is ethereal; why not? It's a stunning wine and one of the very best value reds we have encountered anywhere. .

Drinking Dates: 2025 to 2035

Cépagement: 100% Aglianico

Soil: Mont Vulture vineyards, 450-600 meters above sea level.

Upbringing: Classic red wine vinification with destemmed grapes; maceration on the skins in stainless steel for 12-15 days at 25°-28°C, with periodic pumping over and punching down of the cap. Maturation for 12 months in large Slavonian oak casks for 80% of the wine and in (not new) French barriques for the remaining 20% for 14 months. 7-8 months’ bottle-aging.

ABV: 13%

'The 2020 Aglianico del Vulture Synthesi is dark and rich in the glass, with mentholated herbs giving way to plum sauce, medicinal black cherries, hints of undergrowth and dark chocolate. This is velvety in feel with cooling acidity to balance. Ripe red and black fruits swirl throughout, maintaining a mouthwatering freshness. The 2020 tapers o! with a web of fine tannins and notes of clove that add a lovely bitter sensation toward the close. This is a beautifully balanced rendition of Pasternoster's Synthesi.' 92/100 Eric Guido (vinous.com)

'A tight and intense rendering of aglianico, with a bead of red fruit embellished with savory and spicy licorice notes that give the effect of restrained complexity. Medium-bodied with the same restraint on the palate, but it shows good overall balance and polish. Fine, well-integrated tannins and a long, tight finish. Enjoyable to drink now, but tempting to see how this will evolve in the bottle.' 92/100 (James Suckling)