Villa Matilde's 2003 Camarato (80% Aglianico and 20% Piedirosso) is made in a more jammy style than the 2001. This plump red is loaded with dark fruit, chocolate, new leather and sweet spices. The toasted oak is still quite dominant here, and this wine needs at least a few years to come together. Today it doesn't look like it will be as long-lived as the 2001 but it should offer more immediate pleasure. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018.
Proprietors Tani and Maria Ida Avallone run this estate located outside Naples, in the province of Caserta, where the history of viticulture spans several centuries. The mineral-rich soils yield wines of uncommon complexity and elegance. The estate works with a selection of ancient clones of the area’s indigenous varieties that were re-discovered several decades ago and subsequently re-planted throughout the vineyards. Riccardo Cotarella is the consulting oenologist. Unlike many estates in the region, Villa Matilde excels with both reds and whites. Notes on some of Villa Matilde’s value-priced wines can be found in my Best Buys from Italy article available at www.erobertparker.com.
Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900