2006 Salice Salentino Riserva

2006 Leone de Castris Salice Salentino Riserva
This winery has been making this wine since 1954 with 90% Negroamaro and 10% Malvasia Nera grapes. The winery is located in the province of Lecce, the most southern province in the heel of the boot that is Italy.

This wine is beautiful ruby red. On the nose I get dark cherries, blackberry, and Italian spices (basil and maybe just a hint of garlic). Not terribly aromatic, but enough to draw you in and there is nothing obtrusive to scare your nose in this bouquet.

The fore-palate is briefly fruit-forward, including the cherry and blackberry from the nose, along with dark plum. This is followed by a mid-palate of well balanced but stout tannins, which are enjoyable and not too lengthy on the finish. The finish is long with fruit and diminishing tannins...very enjoyable. My friend PJ and I enjoyed this with spaghetti and a spicy sausage-driven red sauce...brilliant!

Retail: $13
Rating: 90
This is an absolute steal! If you see it, buy at least one, maybe two. Thank You PJ for buying this one and serving it with dinner, I'm going to pick up a few bottles for my next couple Italian dinners.