2016 Torrevento Castel del Monte Riserva Vigna Pedale, Italy, Puglia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a red from Apulia (Puglia) which is the heel of the boot of Italy.  The grape is Uva di Troia called Nero di Troia locally.  13.5% abv.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  A really interesting nose with raisins and baking spices but also raspberries and a bit of wild herbs.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  A good backbone of acidity.  On the palate, rhubarb, cranberries and toasted herbs.  This is a wine made for food.  It will work well with roasted meats (and even veggies).  Drink over the next few years.  

2016 ARCOS Salice Salentino, Italy, Apulia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is a blend of 90% Negro Amaro and 10% Malvasia from Puglia, Italy.  It sells for $12 which is a great value.  Ruby in color although deeper purple at the core.  The nose has black cherries, with a nice earthy merde quality to it.  On the palate, this is cleaner with nice black cherry fruit.  Slightly bitter on the finish, this really needs some food.  Medium tannins.  It should be good for another few years at least.  Tasty wine that will be good for summer barbecues and casual evenings.  

2014 Tormaresca Primitivo Torcicoda Salento IGT

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a "Zinfandel" from Italy.  It retails for $20, and that is a very nice value.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has nice cherry, slight sour cherry and smoke.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Nice cherry flavors with underlying char.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is Italian all the way and would work great at the dinner table with a wide variety of foods.  This is drinking quite well now 

 

1958 Ruffino Vino Liquoroso Salento, Italy, Puglia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1958
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This was cool.  Although made in 1958 it had a screw top.  Metal on glass with no visible o-rings, etc.  The wine was a bit oxidized but really drinking quite well.  It is fortified.  Brown in color, somewhat like Vin Santo.  On the nose, this was like a liquified Tootsie Roll.  Chocolate, slight raisin, confectionery sugar.  Nice.  on the palate, this is fun.  Chocolate candy with good acidity, a bit of caramel.  Slightly sweet.  Nice finish.  Way above expectations and this seems like it has plenty of life left.  Well done.  

2015 Pillastro Puglia, Italy, Puglia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This is made from Primitivo.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and is a bit peppery.  On the palate, nice acidity.  Cherries.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  Better with food.  A nice food wine and should be under $15.  

Salice Salentino: A Drinkable, Affordable Red Wine from Italy's Apulia Region

Apulia (also called Puglia) is the region that makes up the southeast corner of Italy including the heel of the boot of Italy. Historically, Apulia has been a very large producer of wine often leading Italy in terms of quantity of wine produced. The wines produced there were rugged, rough and deeply colored, and not of high quality. Much of the production went into cheaper jug wines or was blended into generic wines. Often, the wines were scandalously blended into wines from the more premier wines of the north giving those wines deeper color and a bit of texture. Nevertheless, the locals liked their local wines. These wines, however, were rarely tasted outside their homeland as a serious individual bottle of wine.