Cantele Salice Salentino Riserva 2009 | $10

[Michael Horne]

I had high expectations for this Southern Italian red, given that it’s a Gambero Rosso “3 Bicchieri” (3 Glasses) winner AND their pick for the Best Value Wine of 2013.  At just $10 retail here in the States, it didn’t disappoint.

What you’ll taste: Bing cherry, wild herbs and brambles hit you right off the bat.  On the palate, there’s lots of bright red fruits like cherry, rhubarb and cranberry coming through, complemented with baking spices & a hint of smokiness.  In spite of it spending a good amount of time in a mix of new and old oak (12 months), the tannins are modest, making this a friendly wine for drinking in 2013.  Acidity is high, making it a bright wine that’s easy to pair with food.  Alcohol level is only 13% – surprisingly low given that this is from Italy’s roasting-hot Puglia.

What’s in the bottle:  100% Negroamaro – a common, thick-skinned varietal grown throughout Puglia.  The wine spends 12 months in a blend of new & old oak, then another 24 months resting before it’s released.

What to eat with this:  This medium-bodied wine has pretty high acidity that gives it a brightness that goes well with grilled meats (sausages!) and pasta dishes with pork or beef ragu.  I’d bring this wine out with an antipasti board of salumi & hard cheeses.

How much & where to find it:  You can’t beat this wine for the money.  At 10 bucks, it’s a perfect everyday house wine. Buy it by the case online, or ask for it at your local wine shop.  With 220,000 bottles of this stuff hitting the market, you can find it everywhere.

Visiting them: Paolo Cantele and the family welcome visiting wine lovers with a reservation.  You can stop by and taste the wines, then take some home portar via. Their opening hours are generous: Monday through Friday from 9AM to 1PM, and again from 3-6PM. They’re also open Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM.  Don’t forget to make a reservation: Contact Paolo or call them at +39.0832.705.010.

Cantina address:  Strada Provincia 365 (Salice Salentino – San Donaci), kilometer 1, Guagnano (LE) 73010.  It’s on the road between Salice Salentino and San Donaci, northwest of Lecce & just outside their home town of Guagnano.  Use Google maps for this one.

Website: The Cantele family have a wonderful English-language website, and they are “social savvy” with a cool blog and lots of great photos, videos and info on their wines.  Check them out at http://www.cantelewines.com.

Michael Horne, CS
Los Gatos, CA USA

[Michael Horne]

Looks like I’m a Maverick. Who’da thunk it? 🙂
http://www.cantelewines.com/?s=Michael+Horne

–Michael

Michael Horne, CS
Los Gatos, CA USA

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