2023 Torcicoda

First Apulian wine to be featured on Wine Spectator’s Top 100. This wine is intense ruby red in color with light violet hues. The palate is soft and generous with ideal structure and an elegant, tannic texture.

Torcicoda is crafted with Primitivo, this wine has strong ties to the rustic and rural countryside where it is produced. It was also a symbol of fertility and wealth for the local families, and in a not-too-distant past and it was even given as part of young brides’ dowries when they married. “Torcicoda” on one hand indicates an instrument that farmers once used to groom their horses while on the other hand it represents the coiling, luxuriant nature of the shoots and leaves of its vines, also called the vine “of three harvests” due to its abundant growth.

Grapes were harvested slightly over-ripe. After destemming, the berries were gently crushed, and the must was transferred to stainless steel tanks where alcoholic fermentation took place at a controlled temperature that did not exceed 28 °C (82 °F). During maceration on the skins, periodic pump overs and delèstage (rack and return) were performed over a period of approximately 13 days. Before bottling, Torcicoda was aged in oak, 80% in barriques and 20% in tonneaux, neither of which were first fill.

Masseria Maìme is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Upper Salento not too far from the town of San Pietro Vernotico in the province of Brindisi. The estate extends along the coastline forming a unique countryside of vineyards that lies between woodlands and pine forests stretching out as far as the eye can see until blending into the sea.

Notes of fruit dominate the nose, particularly blackberries and raspberries that meet spicy hints of licorice and chocolate.
Entry on the palate is soft and generous with good structure sustained by elegant tannins. It closes with a long, persistent finish accented by a pleasant aftertaste of cherry jam.