Un Assaggio of Moccia's Campi Flegrei - Azienda Agricola Agnanum (Na)

Today I decided to stop  by and visit  Raffaele Moccia, Azienda Agricola Agnanum located in Agnano - in the heart of Campi Flegrei.  A visit with Moccia is always a learning experience,  whether we go up to the vineyards, dabble around in the cantina, or just hang out and chat about Falanghina, Piedirosso, or anything under the sun.  We hadn't seen each other in awhile, so I was curious about how this harvest year was going.

 Sure it's been rainy, but thevolcanic terrain dries quickly. Yeah,  the hailstorm back in June did some serious damage.  We'll have to wait and see what the next month or two has in store temperature wise, he shared. 

The conversation continued, eventually leading to an impromptu wine tasting of the latest vintage that he has just bottled but hasn't released yet.  His Falanghina dei Campi Flegrei DOC 2013 as well as his Piedirosso (Per' e Pallum) DOC 2013.

I opened a bottle while Moccia went to get the glasses  - correction, glass.  I would be tasting alone.  Moccia wantd to wait a week or so before he sees what his wines had to offer.

So I tasted, alone.  First the Falanghina, then the Piedirosso.  Two wines, two assaggi. 

A tasting that took awhile.

 Informal. 

 Casual.  

No need to rush. 

Each time I put my nose in the glass or took a slow sip, I couldn't help but think back to previous visits in vineyards... in the cantina.

During this tasting, I not only thought about how these wines were today...but how they could be tomorrow.

I mean, here we are in Campi Flegrei. The variety and  the territory - when handled properly in the vineyard then in the cantina needs the right amount of time.  And has been proven to itself beautifully over time. 

I thought back to my first tasting with Moccia and his wines, back in 2012.  Over a Sunday lunch of barbecued chicken and rabbit.  I thought back to various tastings like the one held a year ago ish when we tasted his Falanghina 2003.  

Would I have the patience to hang on to a bottle for 10 years?

I pre ordered a case of each...just to be sure.