POSTA VECCHIA Rosso Salento IGP 2018

"Posta Vecchia" Rosso Salento IGP 2018 / San Donaci / Apulia

Red wine from Italy

Viticulture in the southern Italian region of Apulia has seen a huge leap in quality in recent years. The area owes its name to the Romans, who called it "Apluvia" - without rain. The Mediterranean climate is warm and dry, and the landscape is flat. Actually, the prerequisites for viticulture are not that good, but capable winemakers have managed to conjure up high-quality wines anyway.

The Cantina San Donaci is located in the place of the same name exactly in the middle of the heel of the Italian boot and currently unites around a thousand winegrowers who deliver their grapes to the winery, where they are then transformed into wonderful wine using the most modern methods. Only healthy and high-quality grapes can produce quality wines: on this basis, the Cantina San Donaci rewards the work of its members with a careful analysis of the incoming grapes and the distribution of the profit in relation to the quality of the grapes delivered.

A long time ago, in San Donaci, on the road that connected the cities of Brindisi and Taranto, there was an old post office. Here, among the bags of letters and the goods to be transported, travellers who were waiting for their onward journey also met. These people exchanged news, played cards in the sunniest hours of the day and refreshed themselves, mainly by consuming the local hard cheese with local wine. The sincerity and harmony of those past moments seeks to be revived with Cantina San Donaci's "Posta Vecchia" Rosso Salento IGP, made with Negroamaro, Cabernet and Syrah grape varieties.

The growing areas of the grapes for the "Posta Vecchia" are located on soils of calcareous clay in the southern Italian provinces of Brindisi and Lecce. After the careful manual harvest, a traditional red wine fermentation with maceration on the skins takes place for about three days at a controlled temperature. The wine is then stored in barrique barrels for about six months. After the passage in barriques, refinement continues in the bottle.

With its garnet red, the "Posta Vecchia" exudes a bouquet of blueberries, currants, and black cherries in alcohol. Fine noses perceive cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and pepper in the background. Its pronounced balsamic note cannot be overlooked. The taste of this wonderful red wine is dry and full-bodied. With its sweet and soft tannins, it delights the taste buds with subtle roasted aromas. Overall velvety and round in the finish.

At an optimal drinking temperature of around 16 to 18°C, the "Posta Vecchia" Rosso Salento IGP from Cantina San Donaci is an excellent accompaniment to rich pasta dishes, juicy meat dishes and braised roasts and game dishes.

General properties

• Vintage: 2018
• Ageing: Dry
• Country: Italy
• Region: Apulia
• Volume: 0.75 litres

Detailed properties

• Producer and bottler: Cantina San Donaci - Via Mesagne 62 - 72025 San Donaci (Brindisi) - Italia - +39 0831 681005
• Quality Designation: Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP)
• Grape: 50% Negroamaro, 25% Cabernet and 25% Syrah.
• Production area: The growing areas of the grapes for this wine are in Salento in the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce.
• Soil type and training system: The soils consist mainly of calcareous clay and the vines are laid out in the spur cordon.
• Plant density and yield: Around 4000 to 5000 plants per hectare. A yield of 120 to 130 quintals per hectare.
• Vinification: After a careful harvest, a traditional red wine fermentation (maceration on the skins) takes place for about three days at a controlled temperature. The wine is then stored in oak barrels for about 6 months. After the passage in the barrique, the refinement continues in the bottle.
• Sensory characteristics: The nose shows fruity notes of blueberries, red currants, and black cherries in alcohol in the foreground. In the background cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and pepper. Pronounced balsamic note. Dry and full-bodied on the palate with a subtle roasted aroma. Penetrating with sweet and soft tannins. Velvety and round.
• Colour: Red tending to garnet.
• Alcohol content: 14.0 % Vol.
• Acid: 7.2 g/l
• Residual sugar: 12.7 g/l
• Stopper: Natural cork
• How to serve: This wine goes perfectly with juicy first courses and second courses based on meat, braised roasts, and game.
• Recommended serving temperature: Between 16 and 18°C.
• Allergens: Contains sulfites
• Awards: Gambero Rosso 2022: 2 GLASSES; Luca Maroni 2022: 93 POINTS; I Vini di Veronelli 2022: 84 POINTS; Mundus Vini 2021: GOLD.
• EAN (bottle): 8023909011030
• Scope of supply: 1 bottle of wine 0.75 litres

Grape variety

NEGROAMARO

Negroamaro is a red grape variety grown primarily in the Puglia region of southern Italy. The name "Negroamaro" probably comes from the combination of the words "negro" (black) and "amaro" (bitter), which refers to the characteristic properties of the grapes. The grape variety is known for its dark, almost black-purple colour. The leaves of the Negroamaro vine are large, round, and deep green. The shoot tips are usually slightly woolly. Its grapes are medium-sized, compact, and conical in shape. The berries are dark purple to black and have a thick skin. The grapes ripen relatively late in the season, allowing winemakers to wait for optimal ripeness to ensure complex flavours and balanced acidity in the wines. The Negroamaro plant thrives particularly well in warm, sunny climates. Due to Puglia's warm climate, Negroamaro grapes tend to reach optimal ripeness, resulting in wines with high alcohol content and balanced acidity. These wines are versatile and can be used as standalone varietal wines or in cuvées to create different styles. Overall, Negroamaro contributes to enriching the wine diversity in Puglia and is extremely popular in the region due to its adaptability and the quality of the wines produced.

CABERNET

The red wine grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon, which originally comes from Bordeaux in France, is also grown in the southern Italian region of Apulia. Growing Cabernet in Puglia is part of an international winemaking movement that aims to grow different grape varieties in different terroirs to produce a wide range of wine styles. The leaves of the Cabernet Sauvignon plant are medium-sized, dark green and have a five-lobed shape. The grapes are medium-sized, densely packed and oval. Its berries are small, round and have a thick, dark skin. The Cabernet Sauvignon vine is vigorous and grows well in a variety of climates, from temperate to warm regions. It ripens late and therefore requires a longer growing season to reach full maturity. In Apulia, with its Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters, this grape variety has found a beautiful habitat. In Puglia, Cabernet tannins are often softer than in regions with a cooler climate, resulting in more approachable wines. Cabernet Sauvignon is often used in Puglia as part of cuvées, either with local or international grape varieties. This can lead to interesting and unique wine styles.

SYRAH

The Syrah grape variety, also known as Shiraz, originally comes from the Rhône Valley in south-eastern France, but has now spread worldwide. When grown in Puglia, southern Italy, with its hot summers and mild winters, it develops local characteristics. The leaves of the Syrah plant are usually large and dark green. They have an elongated shape with a tapered tip. The leaf edges may be slightly jagged. Its bunches are usually medium-sized and conical in shape. The clusters are densely arranged, and the berries are rather small. The berries themselves are rounded and have a deep, dark colour when ripe. The vine can reach a considerable height as it tends to grow upwards. Syrah wines from Puglia tend to be powerful and intense, with ripe fruit aromas such as black berries, plums, and sometimes spicy notes. The warm temperatures in Puglia promote optimal ripening of the grapes, resulting in full-bodied wines with good structure and tannins. The wines can also have a certain spiciness, as well as hints of pepper and other spices. Winemakers in Puglia often combine traditional winemaking techniques with modern approaches to get the best out of the Syrah grape and produce wines with a balanced harmony of fruitiness, spice, and tannins. Syrah wines from Puglia are usually good accompaniments to strong meat dishes and regional specialties.

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