Li Veli Passamante Negroamaro 2010

Here’s a wine with a romantic past… The big vineyard of Negroamaro located next to Masseria Li Veli, surrounded by a perimeter of big pine trees, is just beside a forest called "Passamante". The reason for this name is that in the past, people who wanted to “have a tumble in the hay” with their lover, especially if not allowed, used to pass by this grove. As a consequence, this started to be considered The Forest of Lovers and took on this name from the words “Pass” (to pass) and “Amante” (lover)… The peculiar scent of the vegetation in this maquis is perfectly in harmony with the organoleptic properties of the wine. Has a good ring to it and sure beats naming the wine “a roll in the hay.” And truth be told, this is a hedonistic pleasure with savory, rounded red berries are still bright and engaging and textural all the way throughout the palate and long into its well scented finish. This Salice Salentino is 100% Negroamaro and after 6 months in French oak barriques, it is big and flavorsome and yet ripe for the table.
Wine review by Nicholas Livingston, March 2012