Varvaglione Susumaniello 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. It is recommended to decant it for half an hour. The Varvaglione winery boasts a long family tradition dating back to 1921, the year the company was founded. Today, the cellar is based in Leporano, Puglia, and is managed by the fourth generation of the family, committed to carrying forward the company philosophy with an innovative approach that is deeply respectful of the terroir and the history of Puglia's winemaking. The winery focuses on native grape varieties, and in addition to the popular Primitivo and Negroamaro, it produces other wines from lesser-known varietals, such as this Susumaniello, a local red grape that was almost completely abandoned until about a decade ago and has recently been revived. Susumaniello is a variety with great character that beautifully expresses the soul of the Apulian terroir. In this elegant example, after harvest and vinification, the wine ages for six months in French oak, acquiring roundness and aromatic complexity. In the glass, the wine reveals a rich and expressive bouquet with ripe notes of dark fruit (especially black cherry and plum) and hints of Mediterranean herbs and sweet spices. On the palate, it is full-bodied, smooth, and balanced, with firm yet well-integrated tannins and a pleasant fruitiness that lingers on a long, warm finish. Try it with a mixed cheese platter or grilled red meat.