Primitivo di Manduria 'Villa Santera' Leone de Castris 2023
"Villa Santera" is a Primitivo di Manduria with an excellent quality/price ratio and a warm, silky personality, obtained from 40-year-old vines cultivated with the traditional Apulian bush training system. Rich and complex aromas of cherry, strawberry, sweet spices, and balsamic notes synthesize a full and warm structure, animated by an enveloping freshness
The Primitivo di Manduria “Villa Santera” by Leone de Castris is a version of this classic Apulian red vinified with a short passage in wood. It is a label that represents an ideal synthesis between the typically varietal fruity characteristics of Primitivo and a richer and more evolved bouquet, without being too characterized by tertiary notes. On the nose, it opens with aromas of cherry, red fruit, underbrush notes, and spices. On the palate, it is rich and broad, with fruit that remains the protagonist of the sip and closes with a finish of balanced freshness.
The Leone De Castris “Villa Santera” represents the most typical and traditional face of Primitivo di Manduria, far from the concentrations due to appassimento techniques or very long wood aging, which tend to overshadow the primary aromas of the grape a bit. The vines are about 40 years old and are cultivated on soils characterized by the presence of clays and silt with a training system of the traditional Apulian alberello. As is typical,characteristic of the grape variety, which takes its name from this peculiarity, the harvest is quite early and takes place at the beginning of September. The fermentation occurs at a controlled temperature of 20-22 °C and after racking, the Primitivo matures for 6 months in large barrels and completes the aging with 3 months in bottle.
The “Villa Santera” Primitivo di Leone de Castris is a label of great expressive balance, perfect for getting to know the classic face of this great red from Puglia. Halfway between simple and fragrant wines aged only in steel and those concentrated and powerful, aged for a long time in wood, it represents a harmonious and pleasant version of Primitivo, very versatile in food pairings. The color is dark red, with youthful violet reflections. The bouquet reveals aromas of fragrant red fruit, sour cherry, berries, licorice root, and oriental spices. On the palate, it has a good structure, with well-integrated tannic texture, still juicy fruit, and a finish on fresh balsamic notes.