Rich, juicy and velvety.
Dense ruby colour with violet reflections.
Rich, fruity and warm on the nose with aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, black tea leaves, sweet spices and a balsamic hint.
Equally rich on the palate. Fruit forward balanced by juicy acidity and velvety tannins with a pleasant berry persistence.
Excellent value at just 10€ a bottle!
85 points
Food pairings:
This wine is best paired with robust dishes that can match the rich flavours of the wine. It has a nice balance between acidity and roundness with a good persistence so there’s room to play with fresh herbs and spices in a dish. Some examples include: smoked, cured meats like Italian Speck, aged cheeses, roasted lamb and mint sauce.
This wine is made from 100% Negroamaro, an autochthonous grape from the Salento region of Puglia. The vineyards are situated in the small village of San Marzano, in the heart of Salento between the Adriatic and Ionian sea. The soils are made up of red clay typical of the region. This wine is aged 6 months in barriques of French oak, giving it a nice balance and velvety tannins.
San Marzano is a cooperative winery making big strides in recent years, becoming one of Puglia’s most prominent producers. The cooperative started in 1962 with just 19 farmers. At the beginning they produced bulk wine sold by the litre. The first bottled wines were produced in 1996 which made an important shift from a commodity to a brand. Today the winery has grown to over 1200 farmers with an impressive line up of wines that range from 5€ a bottle to 40€, all at an excellent value for money.
In my opinion, Puglia is on of the most underrated Italian wine regions and certainly a region where you get more bang for your buck (excuse the expression). Coincidentally, every time I try a wine from Puglia that I like, San Marzano is behind it. I highly recommend you try it if you come across it!
Vinthropology 