Introduction: Menhir Salento is a family-run estate rooted in the ancient landscape between Bagnolo del Salento and Palmariggi, in the heart of Puglia's Terra d'Otranto. Their Salice Salentino DOC Riserva is built on 100% Negroamaro — the defining red grape of the Salento peninsula — drawn from vines averaging 50 to 60 years old and trained in the traditional alberello pugliese style. This is a wine of genuine place and purposeful restraint, offering the depth and warmth of southern Italy without sacrificing balance.

Terroir: Salice Salentino sits within the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi in the deep south of Puglia, where temperatures regularly exceed 35°C and the growing season benefits from up to 300 days of sunshine annually. The soils are medium-textured clay-loam, well-suited to the heat-tolerant Negroamaro and supportive of deep root systems that sustain vine health during the long, dry summers. Flanked by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, the Salento Peninsula enjoys enough maritime moderation to preserve acidity and structural freshness in what is otherwise an intensely sun-driven climate.

Appearance: Bright, luminous ruby with garnet reflections, showing good depth of color and a clean, compact core in the glass.

Nose: The bouquet is of considerable impact, leading with wild berries, black currant, and blueberry, all beautifully integrated with delicate spice notes of cinnamon and clove. Hints of forest floor and a balsamic lift round out the aromatic profile, adding savory complexity to the ripe, dark fruit core.

Palate: The palate opens with power and freshness in equal measure — ripe dark fruit carries through from the nose, framed by smooth, harmonious tannins that never grip. Fermentation with a 10-day maceration at 22–24°C gives the wine both structure and color depth, while the grape's natural acidity maintains lift and keeps the finish clean. It's a full yet balanced expression, dry and poised.

Finish: The finish is rich and persistent, with lingering notes of spice and dark fruit that fade cleanly into a dry, mineral close. Length is medium-plus, with good tension and no heaviness on the aftertaste.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Mixed roasted meats, braised lamb with herbs, or slow-cooked beef ragù over hand-rolled pasta
🥦 Vegetarian: Roasted mushroom and truffle risotto, eggplant parmigiana, or stuffed bell peppers with herbs and breadcrumbs
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged pecorino, sharp provolone, dried figs, Castelvetrano olives, and soppressata

Overall Impression: The 2019 Menhir Salice Salentino DOC Riserva is a textbook expression of what old-vine Negroamaro can achieve in the hands of a grower who respects the land: sun-drenched fruit, earthy complexity, and a structure built for the table. Serve at 17–18°C to allow the wine's aromatics to fully open; drink now through 2026–2028, with well-cellared bottles likely holding comfortably beyond that window.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 13%
Farming Practices: Conventional viticulture; alberello pugliese (traditional bush vine) training; manual harvest in the third week of September
Producer Name: Menhir Salento (Marangelli family)
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Italy
Region: Salice Salentino DOC, Puglia
Grape Varietals: Negroamaro 100%
Vintage: 2019
Wine Style: Red Riserva. Negroamaro is a full-bodied, deeply colored variety — the name translates literally to "black and bitter" — and the Riserva designation requires a minimum of 24 months of aging, including at least 6 months in oak barrel, before release.
Winemaking Techniques:Destemming and crushing; maceration on skins at 22–24°C for 10 days; minimum 24 months aging per DOC Riserva requirements including at least 6 months in barrel
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle