Shining Star of Puglia: Negroamaro
2018 Feudi di Guagnano 'Nero di Velluto' Negroamaro
With over 400 appellations and more than 100 grape varieties in regular use, it's easy to get lost in the world of Italian wine. Grapes like Sangiovese and Nebbiolo seem to have no trouble getting their share of the limelight, whilst there are many others that clearly deserve much more acclaim than they currently enjoy.
Negroamaro happens to be just one of those grapes - one of Italy's most obscure viticultural treasures. Literally translated as 'black bitter', Negroamaro is famous for its robust character and dark skin, which provides generous colour and tannins. Fortunately, this is a grape that thrives in the hot Mediterranean climate of Puglia, balancing relatively high alcohol levels with freshness and poise.
Nero di Velluto, aka 'black velvet', is the wine Feudi di Guagnano describe as their most important. The fruit is hand-picked from an 85-year-old vineyard before being dried for 30 days in the appassimento method, yielding an even more luxuriously concentrated flavour.
Only produced in the very best harvests, the 2018 vintage is velvety, spicy, and complex with an intense red colour, and carries lively notes of black pepper, licorice, prune, and cocoa. A fine match for red meat or tomato-based pasta sauces.
This wine has been awarded the highest honours from Bibenda for five consecutive years. Cellaring potential: 10-15 years.