Tormaresca Negroamaro/Cabernet 2001
Italy, Puglia ($11)
Southern Italian wines make my mouth water. I don't know why. Every time I'm asked about my favorite region, I mention Puglia. The negroamaro based wines have a full, dry, earthy, and bitter taste that I love to pair with my home cooking. The buzz of finding a new liquor store in my neighborhood hasn't worn off yet and this bottle had gotten my attention the last time I lurked down aisle there. Having never heard of the producer Tormaresca, and being less than impressed with the label, the only selling point was the 70% negroamaro. The other 30% is Cabernet Sauvignon. I guess this could be described as new world influence on a native grape based wine. Typically this would be Malvasia Nera instead of cabernet. I'm not sure if this mix would attract the average Cab drinker, but it damn sure interested me as a Negroamaro drinker.
Aromas of dark berries and licorice. Medium body with earth undertones and ripe fruit flavors. The blend is seamless, with the cabernet making up for the usual bitter aftertaste of the negroamaro. It seems very one dimensional, but satisfying in the taste and feel it has to offer. I think it makes a great dinner wine, and in my case it was with gnocchi. The most interesting aspect of this wine has got to be its potential to inspire the average wine drinker, more specifically the cab drinker, to try something different. It may just be the wine that opens up a novice wine drinker to lesser known grapes like negroamaro. My grade: B-
Where was I when you drank this wine???
Posted by: wino's girlfriend | March 22, 2006 at 12:32 PM