Cantele Salice Salentino Riserva 2017

Description

The village folk still call it Niuru Maru: Negroamaro, meaning bitter black (red).

In another era, Negroamaro was grown solely to ship to the north of Italy where the colder climate made it challenging to obtain the desired color and alcohol levels in the wines they produced. But in recent decades, more and more Salento wineries have looked to the variety as one of the most noble expressions of Pugliese viticulture.

Thanks to its vibrant acidity and its wonderful balance of fruit and earth flavors, the popularity of Negramaro only continues to grow — among winemakers and wine lovers alike.

Wine Enthusiast 88: The subtle nose on the Cantele Negroamaro Riserva quietly projects tar and roses, with fresh cherries in the background, while the palate gives denser, chewier cherries with toasted nuts and spices. The tannins are still standing up, and the acid and alcohol still kicking back, even if they’ve been pleasantly softened by time. — Danielle Callegari