Yes from Puglia in Italy comes a new grape in my hood called Nero di Troia which is primarily found in the Apulia region of Italy and is according to some rustic, tannic and very productive. It translates as “black of Troy” but DNA analysis shows no relationship to Greek grapes.
On the nose a good dose of black earth, black cherry and blackberry. On the palate the tannins are widespread in the mouth but not exactly forceful. This is the first wine I can say I have noticed “spread out tannins” in that they coat the entire mouth. Interesting. It is a very easy drinking wine and certainly could be appreciated as a sipping wine. But I would not call it rustic. With notes of black cherry, Ontario sugar babe watermelon and Ontario purple plums and a certain smoothness. Medium length finish but again rather strangely it coats the entire mouth. There is a very slight sweetness to it. 6 months in New American oak but done so well I can’t detect it so perhaps the oak has wrestled with the rustic and tamed it? The Liquor Control Board Vintages catalogue suggests it is a good match for pizza topped with steak or mushrooms. Mushrooms as a topping but steak? Never heard of that topping before but it would match the wine. I’d go with a shrimp and okra gumbo many recipes of which you can find on the internet but remember when sautéing the okra do it long enough to deslime the little buggers.
All in all the year is very young but this is the most interesting red so far!
If I owned a restaurant, I’d seriously think of making this my red house wine.
(Zensa Nero di Troia 2019 (Vegan) IGP Puglia, Orion Wines, Lavis, Italy, $16.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 17390, 13%, 750 mL, Robert K. Stephen a little birdie told me so rating 90/100).
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