What kind of wine is Salento Rosso IGT 'Nero' 2021 - Conti Zecca?

The Salento Rosso IGT 'Nero' 2021 - Conti Zecca is an elegant and harmonious red wine, an authentic expression of Salento and its centuries-old winemaking tradition. Produced by the historic winery Conti Zecca in Leverano, it is born from a skillful blend of native grapes such as Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, varieties that find their ideal habitat in the warm Puglian sun. It is a full-bodied and structured wine, designed for those seeking a significant yet balanced red, capable of telling the generosity and richness of the Salento territory.

Vintage Details

The 2021 vintage was characterized by a balanced climate, with warm but not excessive summers and excellent diurnal temperature variation. These conditions favored the complete ripening of the grapes, yielding a wine of great aromatic concentration and a fine tannic structure. The harvest, performed manually, selected only the best bunches, thus ensuring a particularly clean and intense expression of the territory.

Winemaking and Aging

The Salento Rosso IGT 'Nero' 2021 - Conti Zecca is made through careful winemaking: the grapes are fermented in stainless steel with prolonged maceration on the skins to best extract color and aromas. This is followed by a long aging period of about 18 months in French oak barriques, then another year in large oak barrels, and finally a minimum rest of six months in the bottle. This process gives the wine complexity, softness, and splendid aging potential.

Tasting Notes

The Salento Rosso IGT 'Nero' 2021 - Conti Zecca is a wine that strikes with its depth and harmony, offering a satisfying drinkability and a persistence that invites a second glass.

Color

Visually, it presents an intense ruby red with garnet reflections, a sign of its maturity and long aging in wood.

Nose

On the nose, ripe red fruit aromas like cherry and plum stand out, accompanied by subtle notes of sweet spices, vanilla, and cocoa. There are also balsamic and tobacco hints that speak of the elegance of the wood and the complexity of the raw material.

Palate

On the palate, it is full, soft, and enveloping. The tannin (the natural substance in grapes that gives structure and pleasant roughness) is silky, balanced by a good alcohol content and a freshness that makes the drink well-balanced. The aromatic persistence is long, with returns of ripe fruit and spices.

What to Pair with Salento Rosso IGT 'Nero' 2021 - Conti Zecca

It is the ideal companion for rich and flavorful dishes. Perfect with:

• Grilled or braised red meats
• Roast lamb and game
• Pasta with structured sauces, such as beef ragu or sausage
• Aged cheeses, especially Pecorino and Caciocavallo

Thanks to its elegance and softness, it can also accompany an important dinner or become the star of a tasting moment among friends.

Storage and Aging: How to store Salento Rosso IGT 'Nero' 2021 - Conti Zecca wine

The Salento Rosso IGT 'Nero' 2021 - Conti Zecca is a wine that can evolve over time, improving its characteristics with bottle aging. For proper storage:

• Keep the bottle horizontally, away from light and heat sources.
• Ideal temperature: 14-16°C (57-61°F).
• Controlled humidity, around 70%, to preserve the cork.

It can be enjoyed immediately for its harmony and richness, but those who love evolved wines can store it for up to 8-10 years, appreciating its increasingly complex aromatic nuances over time.