Villa Santera Primitivo di Manduria DOC - Leone de Castris

Villa Santera Primitivo di Manduria DOC - Leone de CastrisIn the glass, Villa Santera Primitivo di Manduria DOC - Leone de Castris shows a bright ruby red with a dark purple core and fine violet reflections. The dense color immediately suggests a powerful, intense red wine. At the rim, a hint of garnet shimmers, indicating concentrated grapes and careful maturation. The nose unfolds a beguiling bouquet. Ripe cherries meet juicy plums, joined by black cherry and a hint of blackberry. The typical notes of cloves rise immediately and combine with sweet hints of cinnamon and a touch of black pepper to create a sensual, warm spiciness. Delicate nuances of dark chocolate, cocoa and a hint of vanilla are reminiscent of finely toasted oak. In the background, dried herbs, a hint of tobacco and a discreet, earthy minerality appear. On the palate, Villa Santera Primitivo di Manduria DOC - Leone de Castris presents itself as full-bodied, dense and smooth. The fruity sweetness of ripe cherry harmonizes with dark berry fruit and the juicy richness of dried plum and fig. The tannins feel ripe, rounded and polished. They provide structure and grip without dominating the palate. The acidity is delicate, well integrated and gives the wine drive and drinkability. The spicy hints of cloves and chocolate accompany the flavor into the long, warm finish, which surprises with notes of cocoa, espresso, licorice and a touch of liquorice root. The style is clearly southern and sun-drenched: fruit-driven, velvety, with an opulent body and silky mouthfeel. Nevertheless, the wine maintains a fine balance of fruit richness, spice and fresh tension. Primitivo from Manduria here shows its character in pure form: generous, charming, sensual and at the same time pleasantly structured. The Primitivo di Manduria growing area in Apulia in the south of Italy lies near the Ionian Sea. Hot summer days, cool nights and a constant sea breeze shape the ripening of the grapes. The vines take root in calcareous, partly clayey soils with a red, iron-rich topsoil. This terroir gives the wines power, dense fruit, exotic spice and a hint of salty minerality. The Primitivo grape variety shows its full potential here. It delivers deep color, high ripeness levels, opulent aromas and an impressive, caressing body. In Manduria, Primitivo achieves a special expressiveness with intense cherry, dark berry fruit, dried fruits and a warm, stimulating spice. The aromatic diversity of this red wine can be well summarized in a small overview: Fruit: black cherry, red cherry, plum, blackberry, dried figs Spice: cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, liquorice root Mature notes: dark chocolate, cocoa, espresso, tobacco Fine nuances: vanilla, dried herbs, earthy minerality In the mouth, the wine appears structured and pleasantly smooth. The alcohol supports the richness and gently warms without seeming too heavy. The finish lingers with cloves, chocolate and black cherry. This creates a red wine that impresses both on its own and at the table. For wine lovers looking for a characterful yet elegant Primitivo, this wine offers several clear strengths: Intense, sun-ripened fruit with typical Primitivo spice Soft, ripe tannins and full-bodied texture Long, aroma-rich finish with chocolate and cloves Authentic expression of the Manduria terroir in Apulia Production of Villa Santera Primitivo di Manduria DOC by Leone de Castris The grapes for Villa Santera Primitivo di Manduria DOC - Leone de Castris come from selected vineyards in the Primitivo di Manduria DOC. The climate features hot, sunny summers, mild winters and only little rainfall. Proximity to the sea brings fresh breezes that relieve the vines during the warm months. The soils are rich in limestone and clay with a characteristic red topsoil. This interplay of sun, wind and soil produces concentrated, highly aromatic berries with thick skins. Primitivo ripens early and reaches high must weights in Apulia, which explains the powerful style. For this wine, exclusively single-varietal Primitivo is brought into the cellar. Harvesting is selective, often in the early morning hours. This keeps the grapes fresh, the aromas clear and the temperature low. Only perfectly ripened fruit goes into fermentation. In the cellar, the berries are first destemmed so that only the fruit goes into further processing. A maceration period gently extracts color, aromas and tannins from the skins. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks preserves the fruit and prevents unwanted oxidation. During fermentation, the cellar master regularly stirs the must so that juice and skins remain in intensive contact. After alcoholic fermentation, the young wine continues to mature, partly in stainless steel tanks, partly in wood. The targeted use of wood imparts structure, fine toasted aromas and the typical notes of chocolate, vanilla and sweet spices. The maturation phase allows the wine to smooth its tannins and concentrate its aromas. This is how the silky texture that caresses the palate com...