Nestled between Abruzzo to the north and Campania to the south, Molise is one of Italy’s smallest and most obscure wine regions. Although the wines from this mountainous and sparsely populated area are not very well known outside of Italy, Molise – which gained D.O.C expatriation from Abruzzo as recently as the 1980’s – has already shown an undeniable aptitude for producing some of Italy’s more colourful and exciting regional Vino. In a nutshell the reds, made from Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Aglianico are supple, agile and elegantly fruited while the whites from Fiano, Falanghina and Greco are aromatic, textural and pulpy-fresh. Di Majo Norante is the undisputed king of Molise. . While owner Alessio Di Majo’s motto 'new wines from ancient vines' won’t will any prises for originality, like many great producers, Di Majo is determined to express a sense of place by utilising traditional varieties and clean, modern winemaking. The wines sit proudly in Fruit=Terroir school; no ‘rustic’, characters here but still a very pronounced sense of place. He has retained the services of Riccardo Cotarella - perhaps Italy’s most in-demand consultant - to aid in maintaining such high standards. The viticulture is organic, which is remarkable given the prices of the wines. Di Majo has long believed such farming practices result in more complex and more appetising wines. While it hasn’t been an easy ride – the results are quite obviously worth it and are there to taste. In our experience you have to travel far and wide to find wines that offer such quality and interest at these prices.
