Southern Italian
Bet Shalom Wine Club, December 2021 Tasting Notes, Southern Italian Wines
Colle Massari Melacce Vermentino 2019 @ $13.98 : This wine is from Tuscany, so actually central Italy, but we had a request for it at a previous wine club event. Winemaker's notes: Aromas of Granny Smith apple, white peach and sweet limes with a hint of exotic fruits. Crispy and dry on the palate with fantastic minerality, … Amazing as an aperitif. Melacce is the name of a river that flows from Monte Aquilaia and crosses a large part of the Cinigiano municipality.
Maiana Salice Salentino Negroamaro 2017 @ $16.99 : Wine Enthusiast: Light aromas of peppery spice, violet and cranberry start off this Negroamaro. There's a softness to the feel at first, yet bright acidity quickly brightens up the palate and propels along the flavors of tart red berries. Light tannins and ripe cherry show good resolve on the finish. Salice Salentino is a DOC of the Puglia wine region in the southeast of Italy (heel of the boot). The catchment area centers on the small town of Salice on the Salento peninsula, and spreads out to the north and west. Negroamaro, the classic grape variety of Puglia, means 'black and bitter.” Negroamaro wine is typically deep in color, with spicy, earthy accents and substantial tannic structure.
Vira Nero D'Avola Petronillo 2019 @ $26.99 : Wine maker's notes: Agricola Vira is an organic farm and vineyard located on the North-West side of Sicily (the soccer ball). We produce Natural wines after spontaneous fermentation, without adding any chemical substances. The farm is run according to a strict organic system, which allows the use of only natural products both for fertilization and for defense against pests, insects and fungi. IGP Terre Siciliane.
Wikipedia: Nero d'Avola is "the most important red wine grape in Sicily" and is one of Italy's most important indigenous varieties. It is named after Avola in the far south of Sicily, and its wines are compared to New World Shirazes, with sweet tannins and plum or peppery flavors. With its bold fruit flavors, robust tannin and acidity, Nero d’Avola is a great wine to match with rich meaty meats.
Adelina Molettieri Don Giovanni Aglianico 2018 @ $19.99 : Aglianico, sometimes called the “Barolo of the South” is considered with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo to be one of the three greatest Italian varieties. Campania IGP. Tiny winery, 1,000 cases total all wines. Winemaker notes: “Irpinia is a hilly part of Campania, and like most of this [southwest] coastal region, it's a volcanic terroir that produces some pretty great wine, much of it from Aglianico, a rustic grape that can get super chewy and tannic with frequent pump-overs or too much oak. But the type that we want to drink, and that the locals actually do drink, are ones like our friend 'Don Giovanni’ here, which trades the oak and excessive manhandling for gentle treatment in stainless steel and big, old wood casks, resulting in juice that fresh, pure and ready to drink now, with cherry, wild berry, warm spices and brilliant acidity. So perfect with all kinds of pasta (especially one with fresh ricotta or eggplant + mozzarella) and pizza.”
Terredora Di Paolo Fatica Contadina (Taurasi) 2012 @ $36.99 : 100% Aglianico. Taurasi is mainly aglianico, aged at least 3 years and one in wood. Wine Enthusiast: Underbrush, mature black-skinned fruit and culinary spice aromas lead the nose. The dense palate offers dried blackberry, prune, licorice and powdered sage set against close-grained tannins. Drink 2020–2032. From Avellino, Campania. James Suckling: This plush Taurasi still has a lot of life left as it leads with notes of dried elderberries, dried meat, steak tartare, cigar box and dried cedar. Full-bodied, tannic and earthy, it is
an uncompromising style of red with enormous concentration, but some verve on the long, chewy