You wouldn’t necessarily know it when meeting him, but Nicola Trabucco‘s childhood nicknames (which in turn provide the fantasy names for two of his eponymous winery’s releases) included “bug up the ass” and “active.”

Maybe the former consulting agronomist/enologist (and, it could be argued, aging Michael Keaton doppelganger) has mellowed with age? That would be fitting, considering how his flagship Aglianico performs after several years of bottle rest. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; context first, right?

Nicola Trabucco

Trabucco spent over ten years as a consultant to wineries in Campania’s Falernum region, helping some of his clients achieve high scores from the traditional wine rags, and bringing additional attention (some of it unwanted, apparently) to the Monte Massico area, and a small explosion of sorts in the number of wineries producing and labeling Falerno. In 2003, he opened his own winery in a former Carinola stable, with vineyards seated not far from the coast, among the cherry trees dotted at various elevations on Massico.

By his own account, Trabucco can thank the past for much of his success. Aside from the high Parker scores that helped ensconce his consulting gig, the name Falerno itself is a favorite of history buffs, being derived from the famous falernian wine of ancient Rome. As Trabucco puts it, “Falerno today has little to do with the drink of antiquity.” For starters, that wine, though made from Aglianico, was probably white. But, like modern Campania reds, it was powerful; as Pliny the Elder put it, falernian vino was “the only wine that takes light when a flame is applied to it.” [ Editor’s note: I’ll bet that they were sober when they performed that experiment, too. ]

It’s how Aglianco fares over time, however, that constitutes its modern reputation; to wit, here’s a little trip down Trabucco’s corsia di memoria del vino rosso…

2013 Trabucco Rapicano Falerno del Massico Rosso (Campania, $40)

In its youth, this is pretty much what you expect from well-crafted, high-end Agliancio. Inky dark colors, ample aromas of spices, smoke, meat, tobacco, dried herbs, resin, coffee, cocoa… dark cherry fruit flavors, chewy, powerful, gritty tannins… Big, bold, brawny. A youthful persona, full of piss and vinegar. But there’s a lot more to the Rapicano tale, and it requires backstory…

2009 Trabucco Rapicano Falerno del Massico Rosso

Things start to feel a lot more complicated here. The dark fruit, coffee, herbs, and tobacco are all there, but more minerality has crept in, and the palate is juicier, and spicier, while still being grippy and a little reticent. The awkward but promising teenage years have begun.

2006 Trabucco Rapicano Falerno del Massico Rosso

After about ten years, we’re starting to see a almost all of the promising potential realized, and in nearly full display. Smokey, mineral, minty, earthy, and with a fruity black-cherry-filled mouthfeel that is downright soft and cozy as far as the burly Aglianico is concerned. This wine wants to be imbibed, and it wants you to do it with a grilled flank steak.

2004 Trabucco Rapicano Falerno del Massico Rosso

Finally, we get to a fully-realized, well-adjusted adult, with a bit of wisdom and experience under its belt.  Decidedly earthy, with notes of soil, dried tobacco leaf, espresso, licorice, potting soil, and plummy fruit. Spices, chocolate, and black tea notes come later, and even accompany the dark fruit flavors once its in your mouth. There’s power, and balance, and refinement here, and overall you walk away with a sense that the melding of tradition and progress that pretty much every Italian wine brand talks about these days has actually been delivered.

Cheers!