San Marzano “F” Negroamaro
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Contrada di Monte la Conca, between San Marzano and Francavilla Fontana (BR), Salento, Puglia.
- The climate is characterised by high temperatures all year round, with very little rainfall and a wide temperature range between night and day, which has a positive influence on the quality of the grapes.
- The soil is loam, finely textured and rich in iron oxides that give the topsoil the distinctive red hue. Calcareous subsoil (limestone) with few emerging rocks.
Varietal Composition: 100% Negroamaro
Elaboration: Old Alberello (bush-vines) vine training. Hand-harvested slightly overripe grapes. Destemming and crushing followed by cold soak maceration at 8°C for about 24- 48 hours. Thermo-controlled maceration and alcoholic fermentation for about 10 days with autochthonous yeasts at 24-26°C. Final drawing off with soft pressing machines Malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks and then in French and Caucasian oak barrels for 12 months.
Tasting Notes: Very deep purple red; wide and complex to the nose, with notes of spices, soft fruit and cherry jam. A full-bodied wine, soft and balanced, rich in fine tannins, with a pleasant long lasting finish.
PRESS
2021 – 92 Luca Maroni
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
In 1962, 19 grape growers from San Marzano di San Giuseppe, Italy, whose families had farmed the land for generations, combined their efforts to establish Cantine San Marzano. Now, this cooperative consists of 1,200 winegrowers. It is one of the most popular and well-known wineries in the ancient southern region of Puglia. Puglia forms the “heel” of Italy’s “boot,” and San Marzano di San Giuseppe is just ten miles inland from the Gulf of Taranto.
Francesco Cavallo, president of the winery since 1982, has promoted a cultural revolution among the members, pursuing modernization of production facilities, along with the fresh ideas of young winemakers, Caterina Bellanova and Davide Ragusa Francesco is determined to create clean and elegant wines that express the authenticity of the Primitivo grape, yet with a modern interpretation. He also instituted the exportation of bulk wine to France and in the 1990s, and after establishing the bottling line, began marketing wine through a broad sales network.