New Arrivals - Leone de Castris

Besides Primitivo, Apulia’s other major grape variety is Negroamaro. In many aspects, Negroamaro is the exact opposite of Primitivo. It ripens notoriously late, producing wines that are high in acidity and with nervy tannins but not very deeply coloured, with less sensual fruit than Primitivo. While Negroamaro can be harnessed to make some attractive unoaked, early-drinking, fruit-focused modern wines, its major interest in the past have been its ageworthy versions released after years of cask ageing, not in their primary youth but in the glory of their balsamic tertiary evolution. Aged Salice Salentino, the best appellation for this style of wine have been some of the best wines of Italy’s Meridione.

Salice Salentino, a small village in Salento rich in vineyards and olive groves, is the landscape giving life to the Leone de Castris wine tradition. New vines have been planted over the years: Chardonnay, Pinot, Sauvignon, Cabernet, Merlot, Montepulciano, going together with the traditional ones: Negroamaro, Malvasia nera, Verdeca, Bianco d'Alessano, Moscato, Aleatico, Primitivo.

The Winery’s production is very rich: red, white and rosé DOC wines (Salice Salentino, Locorotondo, Copertino, Primitivo di Manduria), interesting IGT Salento and Puglia wines, sparkling rosé and white wines; a distillate and an extra-virgin olive oil.

RetroVino will be importing two Primitivos; an IGT and a DOC from Manduria as well as my personal favourites, the Salice Salentino "Maiana", and the 50th Anniversary Salice Salentino Riserva. The Five Roses Rosata (Rosé) which was the first rosé bottled in Italy in 1943 will also be making an appearance on the Irish market. Lets hope we have the weather to relish it!