Description
I’ve been enjoying the Masso Antico Salento Fiano over this cold winter, it has a richness that I find enjoyable and this comes from the fact they partially dry the grapes before fermentation. This concentrates the flavours and sugars and it works for me.
Masso Antico Salento smells of classic Fiano, tropical, citrus, and almond. The palate, as stated, has a richness of fruit, but the phenolic punch keeps it from being fat or oily.
I found Masso Antico Salento is better on the second night, so don’t be afraid to decant this wine. Drink it now(ish) and enjoy it at cellar temperature.
Masso Antico Salento IGT Fiano 2020, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.
Tenute Masso Antico make modern wines from classic Puglian grapes. They use the parent company’s experience to make sure the wines are full of flavour and of consistent quality.
Masso Antico Salento IGT Fiano 2020 Awards
97 points – Luca Maroni, Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani
Gold Medal – Gilbert & Gaillard, International Challenge 2021
Fiano
Historically important white variety. Now almost exclusively from Campania in Italy. Very rich and complex wines with the ability to age. Fiano tends to be quite rich and phenolic. It excels in sites where it can retain some acidity and, therefore, freshness. It is becoming popular in Australia as the hot, dry conditions of Southern Italy are comparable to our climate here. Not a wine to age; the best are thrilling from release.
Salento IGT
Salento is a commonly seen IGT from Puglia. Salento sits over the three provinces in Puglia’s southern tip. The large area and relatively relaxed laws make it easy for the winemakers to produce whatever they want: Red, White, Rose, Sparkling, and Sweet wines are all OK to be made from about 50 varieties.
Puglia
Producing wine since at least 2000BC, the flat coastal shelf Puglia, facing North East toward Greece, has so much history and cultural importance. The vineyards were wiped out by phylloxera in 19th century and an industry chasing quantity was re-established and only recently has that been addressed. 80% planted to red grapes, Puglia makes the most sweet wine of any Italian region.
Italian Wine
There are 1000s and 1000s of grapes in Italy. There are sub-alpine cool-climate regions in the North, and Sun-baked vineyards in the South. Add to that, volcanoes and many cultures within one Country. You could struggle to find anything uniform about the wines. The best of the best include Tuscan reds from Sangiovese or Cabernet. Nebbiolo from Piedmont, especially Barolo and Barbaresco. The aromatic whites of NE Italy from Garganega, Pinot Grigio, and numerous crazy blends. The volcanic wines of Mt Etna in Sicily. And many more.
The only generalisation I will make is that a lot of Italian wine is undervalued when compared to a similar French style.
Wine
Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.
The wine grape is special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.
Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.
The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.
White Wine
It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world.
It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t age for as long.
The Wine Depository
I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.
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