Aglianico del Vulture "SCEG" Elena Fucci

SCEG' is a red wine with an authentic soul and a deep symbolic value, born as a tribute to the land of Vulture, its traditions and the tenacity of its farmers. The name itself, SCEG, recalls the Arbereshe dialect of the village of Barile to refer to the pomegranate, a fruit loaded with positive meanings such as prosperity, wealth and happiness. This project was born in 2016 out of a desire to help Grandfather Generoso's friends, over 90 years old, who, like him, have dedicated their lives to the vines, but who risk seeing the fruits of their life's work disappear with the new generations who have emigrated to the north.
Driven by her love for the land, Elena Fucci decided to take care of these small vineyards, preserving the local wine heritage and giving a new chance to plants that speak of history and tradition. The four plots of land in question, facing south and south-east, cover an area of about 1.5 hectares and are planted with over 70-year-old vines that are rooted in volcanic soil composed of pozzolan, ash, lapilli and clay. Cultivation is organic and all the work is done by hand, from the care of the vines to the harvest, which takes place at the end of October when the grapes are collected in small baskets. In the cellar, the grapes are carefully selected and destemmed. Fermentation takes place in steel vats with maceration on the skins for about 14 days. Malolactic fermentation also takes place during the 12 months of ageing in new oak barrels. The SCEG Red then rests in the bottle for at least 6 months before being released.
The nose is fresh and mineral, with hints of smoke and a rich palette of ripe black fruits, including cherries and figs, enriched with intriguing notes of thyme, ground cumin and white pepper.  On the palate, the SCEG is full-bodied and well-balanced, with creamy, enveloping tannins, round, balanced and persistent on the palate, with a long finish where the spice and minerality typical of the volcanic soil return.