Ormanera Salice Salentino Riserva, DOP, 2016

If we use the classic “boot” analogy, the Salice Salentino appellation covers a small area at the centre of Italy’s heel. Here, in southern Puglia, the land forms a peninsula jutting into the Adriatic Sea. This is a key factor in tempering the dry, sun-baked climate. The grapevines benefit from hot summers and cooling sea breezes to ripen grapes fully while retaining fresh, balanced acidity. The area produces mainly red wine, and native variety Negroamaro is its star. Roughly translated, the grape’s name means black and bitter, which aptly describes its intense colour and robust tannins. As is the case with this feature red, a small proportion of Malvasia Nera is commonly blended with Negroamaro for its lively, aromatic character. The Ormanera cuvée from Le Vigne di Sammarco is a riserva-tier wine from Salice Salentino. This designation is reserved for higher quality wines, aged for a minimum of two years before release, with at least six months of oak maturation. The 2016 vintage was cool fermented to preserve its fruit-focused intensity. The wine was then transferred to second- and third-use barrels for nine months. These older barrels impart less overt oak flavours, while subtly softening the tannic structure. Eight years on, the Ormanera 2016 is still a powerful red wine with firm, grippy tannins. Youthful fruity aromas mingle with aged undertones of prune and mushroom on the nose and follow through on the palate. Finishes dry with balanced freshness. Decant up to an hour before serving. 2024-2029–JB