TASTING NOTES FOR Masso Antico Primitivo Appassimento Salento Italy 2024

🍷 Appearance
Very deep ruby red with an almost opaque core and vibrant crimson highlights. Rich, dense and inviting in the glass, reflecting the concentration achieved through the traditional appassimento method of gently drying the grapes before fermentation.

👃 Aromas
Intense and complex, bursting with ripe black plum, morello cherry and blackberry. Layers of vanilla, liquorice, sweet spice and subtle cocoa are beautifully integrated with delicate oak, creating an expressive and enticing bouquet.

👅 Palate
Full-bodied, smooth and luxurious, delivering generous flavours of black cherry, dark plum and ripe blackberry. The appassimento technique adds richness and depth, while notes of vanilla, spice and dark chocolate complement the concentrated fruit. Fine, supple tannins provide excellent balance and structure.

🍈 Texture & Finish
Velvety and mouth-filling with a plush, rounded texture. The finish is long, warm and persistent, lingering with dark fruits, sweet spice, liquorice and a gentle touch of vanilla oak.

🍇 Overall Style
A rich and opulent southern Italian Primitivo that perfectly showcases the generosity of Salento. Bold yet beautifully balanced, it combines concentrated fruit, silky texture and elegant oak, making it an ideal wine for hearty meals or relaxed evenings.

🍽️ Food Pairing
Perfect with slow-cooked beef, grilled rib-eye steak, lamb shanks, rich pasta with ragu, barbecued meats, wood-fired pizza and mature hard cheeses such as Pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano.

⭐ BBD Verdict
A superb example of Primitivo Appassimento that consistently over-delivers for value. Rich, velvety and packed with flavour, it’s a crowd-pleasing Italian red that offers exceptional depth, warmth and drinkability.

Cheers
Peter Turnbull
Better Buy The Dozen 🍷