Product Description
96 points James Suckling
"There’s a veritable explosion of blue fruit here, but the ripeness is spot-on. Blueberries, hot stones, violets, roasted herbs, bark, tea leaves and cedar. The palate is very focused with lithe and velvety tannins that run over layers of finely tuned fruit through to a long, intense finish. What a wine, and a new find for us! Delicious now, but better in 2021."
Jancis Robinson
"90% Pallagrello Nero, 7% Aglianico, 3% Casavecchia grown on pergola.
Mid to deep crimson. Beautiful, captivating nose of crushed red fruit, with a hint of violets and iron and with a little lift from the oak. Gorgeous blueberry and raspberry palate. Gripping concentration and at the same time elegant and with a cool-climate edge. Super-fine tannins and sensationally balanced, this is an exceptional wine in every way. 18/20 points. (WS)"
Vinous Reverie Notes
"Easily one of my most exciting discoveries of the last year. Founded only in 2007, Nanni Cope', appears to have a very bright future. Proprietor Giovanni Ascione farms without the aid of herbicides or pesticides. His Terre del Volturno is predominantly Pallagrello Nero with dollops of Aglianico and Casavecchia aged in 500-liter barrels. Readers who want to explore the world-class wines of Campania without spending a fortune should start here. The estate's Terre del Volturno is easily one of the very best wines in its price range anywhere in the world." ~ Antonio Galloni
Forbes - Nanni Copè: One Of Italy's Greatest And Least Known Wine Producers
"There are countless producers and wines that rank among the very best in the world, yet many of these are so limited in production and/or come from a territory that's not famous. That's often the case with the Italian wine industry and these hidden gems can be found in virtually every one of the country's 20 regions.
One of my favorites is a red wine called Sabbie di Sopra il Bosco from Nanni Copè, a producer located in the province of Caserta in northern Campania. The proprietor is Giovanni Ascione - Nanni is a nickname for Giovanni - and this is the only red wine he produces (he also crafts a tiny amount of Fiano), but what a wine!
Sabbie di Sopra il Bosco - the name refers to the fact that the vineyard is situated above a forest - is made primarily from a local indigenous variety called Palagrello Nero; there is also a small amount of Casavecchia, another indigenous variety, blended in the wine (the vineyard sourced for the Casavecchia is 125 years old!). From time to time, a small percentage of Aglianico, Campania's most famous red variety, is also included in the blend.
This wine has become something of an obsession for Ascione, and when you listen to him talk about his vines, it's as though he knows every detail about every plant; he can tell you about the differences in pruning, leaf management, and harvesting techniques for every plot.
The wine was first produced from the 2008 vintage, and it was an immediate success; Italian wine critics heaped praise on the distinctiveness and complexity of this wine. The raves for this wine have not stopped, and the newly released 2016, which I tasted recently, is another superb wine. Medium-full with excellent ripeness and flavors of black raspberry, black cherry and licorice, the wine has a rich mid-palate and outstanding persistence; the finish goes on an on. There is good acidity - this has been true for every release of this wine - and the tannins, which are quite rich, are well managed, as they do not overwhelm the fruit. The complexity is simply amazing, as is the overall harmony.
This is, without a doubt, one of the top 25 wines in Italy, and I'm probably being conservative with that ranking, as for me, it's a top 10. There isn't much made, but the Nanni Copè Sabbie di Sopra il Bosco is a stunning wine that will drink well for 15-20 years (it can be enjoyed upon release, but it is a bit of a crime to drink it so soon). If you love the distinctiveness of Italian wines, here is evidence of what a talented vintner can do with Palagrello Nero, a red variety few outside of the Campania region have ever heard of.
It's also a great wine, period. Do what you can to locate a bottle."
Walter Speller of JancisRobinson.com - Some great pergola wines
"An extraordinary wine from the indigenous Pallagrello, Aglianico and the rare Casavecchia made in the last 10 vintages by my Italian colleague, wine writer Giovanni Ascione, from a pergola with vines over a 100 years old. The wine, moulded in the burgundy model of elegance and finesse (Ascione is a great admirer of Burgundy), was however not meant as a slavish copy but to convince the world that Campania can make elegant wines while indigenous varieties do not automatically equal rustic wines. Sadly, last December Ascione sold the vineyard and stopped making wine, reportedly because of the impossibility of combining the workload of wine production with his journalistic and consultancy activities. Snap up any vintage of this wine, if you can still find it. His extraordinary barrel-fermented white Fiano and Asprinio blend from the 2018 vintage has just been released. It should be easier to track down than the Sabbie di Sopra il Bosco and is equally good."
The main grape is Pallagrello Nero, a late variety with a thick skin, austere, characterized by ultra-fine tannins, which produce wines of strong personality. Aglianico contributes structure and acidity to the wine. Both varieties are complemented by a small share of Casavecchia from centuries old un-grafted vinestocks, in the region of Ponteleone. Tasting Notes:Great brightness with a surprising transparency, given the structure. Complex nose, large, very layered, moves from feelings of minerality and fresh flowers then develops a wide range of spices and red fruits. In the glass is stratified more and more, with continuous waves of herbs and Mediterranean. In the mouth fresh and fruity, with returns of minerality and an extraordinary dynamism. The tannins are silky, and the alcohol is perfectly integrated for a long finish. Food pairings: Great flexibility at the table, complex pasta dishes with red meat, with a perfect match with pork.
