TASTE
Puglia’s great treasure – the Negroamaro grape – offers complex aromas of maraschino cherry, raspberry, sweet spices and a touch of vanilla in this sophisticated example. Rich yet firm on the palate, it combines density, finesse and excellent length.
FOOD PAIRING
Beef · Pasta · Lamb
PRODUCER
Tormaresca is made up of two estates in different areas of Puglia: in the central, inland region of Castel del Monte they have Aglianico, and in the Salento peninsula of the extreme south-east, Primitivo and Negroamaro. Cabernet and Chardonnay are grown in both zones, giving the winemaker a broad palette from which to blend the very consistent entry-level wines. Antinori only invested here in 1998, yet since then Tormaresca has become a flagship of Puglian production
VINEYARD
This wine comes from a selection of the best Negroamaro grapes from the 500-hectare Masseria Maìme estate at San Pietro Vernotico. The grapes were harvested at a high level of ripeness in mid-September.
WINERY
The must was fermented with a 15-18 day maceration in stainless steel at a maximum of 26-28oC, with frequent pumpovers and délestages. It is then drained straight to Franch and Hungarian barrique where it completed the malolactic fermentation and matured for twelve months. The wine was aged a further eighteen months in bottle before release.
AWARDS
3 glasses, Gambero Rosso 2016
PRESS
“Here’s a wine that gives ample room to varietal expression. The 2012 Negroamaro Masseria Maìme delivers a generous supply of dark fruit and dried cherry backed by oak-spice and toast. The wine is thick in consistency and powerful in intensity although the mouthfeel feels relatively light and unencumbered. Give it another year or two to flesh out further.” – 90 points, The Wine Advocate, July 2016