Capaldo, Gulielmus Riserva Taurasi 2017

95 points Wine Spectator
"A gorgeous Taurasi, with an up-front burst of ripe fruit -- black cherry, wild strawberry and black plum reduction -- expanding on the palate and transitioning to a savory range of minerally stone and smoke accents. Reveals Mediterranean scrub, dried flowerfs and milled pepper, with fine, supple tannins swathed in the silky texture, while fresh acidity carries the flavor profile on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2032. 1,323 cases made, 250 cases imported."

95 points James Suckling
"The immediate freshness of the nose disguises the hidden depths of mineral complexity from dry to wet stone, which spreads to the palate and prop up the plum and blackberry-conserve fruit character. Then there’s some dried lime-like citrus, too. Full-to medium-bodied with lightly firm tannins and clean minerals on the long finish. So tempting even now, but this will age beautifully. Try from 2024."

Jancis Robinson
"Full bottle a heavy 1,500 g. Beautiful but totally impractical flagon-shaped bottle. Gulielmus comes from a 2-ha vineyard in the highest area of the Taurasi appellation (650 m) in Baiano. Vines were mostly planted in 1992. Soil is typically clay with some volcanic sand layers. Harvested by hand. After fermentation in steel, the wine ages for 18–24 months in barriques and again in the bottle for over two years. They did not bottle the 2016 because it was not as good as they wanted for this special bottling. 2017 'was characterised by abundant snowfalls in early spring after an overall mild winter, with a consistent and positive climate trend in the following seasons. The summer, in particular, was hot but – in the highest area of Taurasi – has also benefited from significant temperature variations and consistent rainfall as of mid August.' Harvested 27 October.
Very deep crimson core with still youthful ruby at the rim. Complex aroma with a very light note of reduction (smoky, peppery) on opening – probably needs decanting at this stage of its life because that note of reduction disappears on the day after opening – and reveals intense black fruit and touch of black olive. Savoury and lightly charry but not oaky. And, several days after opening, it is even more fragrant with an additional floral quality. Has Aglianico's firm tannins but they are extremely refined, tight, youthfully elegant, compact. Darkly fragrant, cool, fresh. Although this has a long life ahead, it is starting to drink well now – as long as you are drinking it with food. Refined, beautifully crafted wine with immense length. A real beauty, developing gracefully. Best to eke this out over several days if you want to enjoy all the nuances – this is alive and changes in the glass. 18/20 points. (JH)"

Vinous Reverie Notes
Tenute Capaldo is a boutique estate who produces only two single-vineyard wines: Goleto and Gulielmus. They are effectively the reference points for Campanian Greco di Tufo and Campanian Taurasi (Aglianico). This is a passion project of Antonio Capaldo, the owner of Feudi di San Gregorio, one of the largest and most respected wineries in Southern Italy.  Tenute Capaldo is separate from Feudi, and designed to show off the unique, diverse terroir of the Irpinia region in the central part of Campania. These are very small production wines that showcase the beauty and potential of Southern Italy. Gulielmus Taurasi (Aglianico) comes from a 5 acre vineyard in Taurasi, in the Sala district, where the soil is clay and the traditional guyot trellised vines have been planted, starting from 1992, with buds harvested from the old pre-phylloxera vineyards. The harvest is done by hand between mid-October and early November. After fermentation in steel, the wine ages for 18-24 months in barriques and again in the bottle for over two years prior to release.