The Librandi family has been working the vineyards located in the Calabrian village of Ciro Mirana for four generations. In the early 1950s, Antonio Librandi began bottling wines independently here. Since then, the name Librandi has been synonymous with quality wines. The vineyards benefit from a fresh breeze from the Ionian Sea. Wind, sun, and the highly calcareous soil guarantee fresh and mineral-rich wines. Today, Paulo Librandi is elevating the wines to a higher level. Without losing sight of the region's ancient traditions, he crafts modern wines from both international and indigenous grape varieties.
In recent years, the DOC Melissa has emerged as Calabria's second most important wine region, after Ciro. Melissa is located directly south of Ciro, also on the Ionian Sea coast. The majority of the production is red, namely ninety percent. Gaglioppo is the primary grape for Melissa Rosso. Librandi chooses to use 100 percent Gaglioppo because it is considered the region's absolute flagship. The most important thing is that the wine should be enjoyed for its fruit and freshness. Therefore, fermentation takes place in stainless steel and is kept short to prevent the wine from acquiring too much tannin from the skins. This results in an elegant wine, with fruit bursting from the glass.
The aroma is delightfully fruity, with pleasant notes of blueberries, blackberries, a hint of spice, and jam—fragrant and seductive. On the palate, this Asylia Librandi has a smooth attack with soft fruit, delicious blackberries and blueberries, cherries, and juice. It's flavorful, smooth, and fresh, with a hint of southern spice.
