WTN: Antica Enotria, Puglia

I have practically no experience with Apulian wines, so had only a vague idea of what to expect from these wines. I thought that it was a hot area so I expected much fruit and alcohol - I am happy to say my ideas were completely wrong with this producer! These were instead mostly wines of freshness and character and structure and no new oak, i.e. just how I like my wines!

(p.s. My backlog of TNs is soon finished, so I'll soon stop cluttering up the forum...)


2010 Antica Enotria Falanghina Daunia IGT - Italy, Puglia, Daunia IGT
12,5% abv; Biodynamic. An interesting wine and IIRC the first Falanghina I've had. It has a floral and mineral aroma - refreshing and seemingly light: certainly not anything heavy like I was expecting from the South! The palate does have quite a bit of weight but it is balanced by plentiful acidity, so this is a very refreshing wine despite its density. Very nice. Must try more of this grape if this is what it can make!

2009 Antica Enotria Puglia Rosso Puglia IGT - Italy, Puglia, Puglia IGT; label
13% abv; Biodynamic; a blend of Montepulciano & Sangiovese. A wonderfully loamy aroma with some cherry tartness. Tannic but juicy, refreshing but dense. Characterful and very enjoyable.

2008 Antica Enotria Nero di Troia Puglia IGT - Italy, Puglia, Puglia IGT; label
13,5% abv. Dark fruit, but no oak that I can see, instead a wonderful savoury, tang-promising freshness. Big, plenty of grip, a dense mass of tannin, quite high acidity - it doesn't sound like a pleasurable wine, but it is! Like the best Nebbiolos, all this structure is palate-cleansing and joyful. Lovely.

2007 Antica Enotria DieciOttobre Puglia IGT - Italy, Puglia, Puglia IGT; label
13,5% abv; a blend of Nero di Troia and Aglianico. A very ripe wine, not as enjoyable IMO as the varietal Nero di Troia since here the fruit becomes raisiny and pruney. But despite the desiccated fruit character on the scent, the palate is actually pleasantly refreshingly structured and the fruit just seems sweet and fresh, not dried. Certainly very drinkable and even enjoyable, but not as full of personality as the varietal example.

2009 Antica Enotria Senzasolfo Puglia IGT - Italy, Puglia, Puglia IGT; label
12,5% abv; a blend of Montepulciano and Nero di Troia. A lovely "natural" aroma, slightly stinky but in such amounts that I enjoy it very much. Mostly, however, the aroma is all about pure, dark fruit, ripe but not raisiny. This wine is very light on its feet - no doubt helped by the relatively low alcohol -, it is racy despite being fully ripe and having upfront fruit. Very nice.