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The GILBERT & GAILLARD International Magazine : Make some room in your lounge for WINE REGIONS from around the world
The GILBERT & GAILLARD International Magazine :
Make some room in your lounge for WINE REGIONS from around the world
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ITALY<br />
– DISCOVERY –<br />
Podere Don Cataldo is the estate after which the Puglian company run<br />
by Ernesto Rocca and his family is named. It follows the same quality<br />
standards as all Rocca family wineries<br />
Puglia is also the home of Italian rosé wines and Podere<br />
Cataldo honours that tradition<br />
nationally-grown cultivar Vermentino (introduced in<br />
place of Chardonnay), and international varieties Syrah,<br />
Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.<br />
Obviously, the region’s identity is best expressed through<br />
its typical grape varieties.<br />
Primitivo: ‘authentic and seductive’. A challenging grape<br />
variety from an agricultural point of view, it is invariably<br />
a real palate-pleaser. Despite the fact that it is the earliestripening<br />
native Puglian red grape variety, its sugar levels<br />
are always highly concentrated. The challenge is to<br />
achieve a balance between alcohol and acidity. This<br />
is made possible by early harvesting, generating fullbodied<br />
wines with great aromatic concentration and<br />
typical sweet notes.<br />
Negroamaro: ‘elegant and velvety’. A generous vine<br />
variety, it is the symbol of the Salento area and offers<br />
velvety tannins, a full, rounded flavour and a surprising<br />
aftertaste of Mediterranean herbs.<br />
Nero di Troia: ‘intriguing and vigorous’. A historic vine<br />
variety which is experiencing renewed purity. Austere<br />
and imposing, it combines a typical explosion of red<br />
and black fruit with notes of leather and undergrowth.<br />
The grape lends itself to maturing in wood, displays<br />
excellent acidity and therefore has a propensity to age.<br />
Susumaniello: ‘rich and intense’. This is a recently<br />
rediscovered native grape. Although in the past it was<br />
known for its high productivity, when controlled, the<br />
variety has the ability to produce extraordinary aromatic<br />
concentration and epitomise the sunny Salento region.<br />
Maximum concentration and high alcohol content<br />
supported by excellent body make it one of the most<br />
interesting Italian native grape varieties.<br />
The Rocca family mature almost all their red wines in<br />
large Slavonian oak casks for about 8 months, in a bid<br />
to enhance the unique characters of each native grape<br />
including their distinctive ripe fruit notes.<br />
Oak barrels were selected for the Susumaniello grape,<br />
however, due to the bolder structure of the wine and<br />
they produced excellent results.<br />
The Rocca family believes the perception of Puglian<br />
wine has changed a great deal in recent years, due to<br />
improved quality coinciding with greater interest in<br />
native grapes, especially in foreign markets. The charm<br />
of the native grapes has struck a chord with experts and<br />
98 WINTER 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE