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"These are some of the most enjoyable interpretations of the varieties readers will find in the region ... I Pentri is on the list of the top five producers to pay attention to in Campania." - Eric Guido, Vinous
Perhaps no other wine-producing country on earth can match Italy's depth and scope of variety. Hundreds of indigenous varietals still thrive here, as they have for thousands of years, and you don't need to venture far off the well-known and well-trodden path to find some truly incredible gems, typically at ridiculous bargain prices.
In the southern Campania region, life still moves at an agrarian pace without the hustle of Italy's more industrialized, "modern" north. They don't get the attention of Piedmont or Tuscany, but that's all to the good for us wine lovers. The native varieties here are wildly different than those up north, yet they still offer serious, distinctive character in the hands of the benchmark estates like I Pentri.
Among those varietals beginning to make a splash is Piedirosso. Typically used in blending with the more well-known Aglianico, it's starting to find footing on its own thanks to spectacular expressions like I Pentri's Kerres. With deep, brooding personality, it's undoubtedly a wine for the cellar, and if you jump on the pair of vintages offered here, you'll see why. "This is as serious as the variety gets," notes Eric Guido, as the 2016 and 2021 renditions each showcase a stellar vintage at different stages of its evolution. Whether you know Campania or not, you won't be disappointed in getting familiar with this pair of world-class value stunners. |