2019 Rivera Castel del Monte Rupicolo Rosso DOC

The only wine from Puglia with the DOCG status. The owner of Rivera - the Corato family belongs to a small group of famous winemakers and is the sole representative of the Apulia region in the "Istituto Grandi Marchi" (www.istitutograndimarchi.com). This institution houses the 19 most prestigious Italian wine producers such as Antinori, Gaja, Biondi Santi, Masi, Sassicaia, Pio Cesare, Tasca d'Almerita, Lungarotti, Lageder, Jermann to name a few.

The Rivera Castel del Monte Rupicolo is a dark and savory red wine that packs a double punch with dark fresh fruit followed by savory spices. Subtle notes of Mediterranean herbs and rosemary appear in the finish. The Rupicolo is a blend of 50% Montepulciano, 40% Nero di Troia and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermentation takes place at 25°C for 6-7 days with frequent pumping after which the wine is further aged in cement vats for 9 months with a further 3 months of bottle aging. This is a great wine with an unprecedented good price/quality ratio and this is also confirmed by Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate (Parker). She writes: "and you can't beat that low price point."

90/100 Luca Maronic