Tormaresca Masseria Maime Puglia 2018

Tormaresca is made up of two estates in different areas of Puglia: in the central, inland region of Castel del Monte they have Aglianico, and in the Salento peninsula of the extreme south-east, Primitivo and Negroamaro. Cabernet and Chardonnay are grown in both zones, giving the winemaker a broad palette from which to blend the very consistent entry-level wines. Antinori only invested here in 1998, yet in that time Tormaresca has become a flagship of Puglian production: Torcicoda combines the soft fruit of Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) with a definite Italian edge; Bocca di Lupo borrows the Aglianico variety from further west to thrilling, blackberryish effect; Masseria Maìme is regularly one of Puglia’s best, made from its greatest local grape, Negroamaro. Pietrabianca is the Cervaro of the south, its freshness and elegance belying its hot-climate origins. All the vineyards are planted unusually densely, giving extra depth to the wines.