"Tormaresca" By Antinori Neprica Primitivo IGT

Tormaresca was established by the Antinori family in 1998 as a deliberate southward expansion — a calculated bet that Puglia's indigenous varieties, long sold off in bulk to bolster northern blends, deserved estate-level attention. The Neprica label draws fruit from Tormaresca's holdings across the Salento peninsula, where deep red-clay and limestone soils retain summer heat long into the night, concentrating sugars and anthocyanins in Primitivo's already thick-skinned berries. Fermentation proceeds in temperature-controlled stainless steel, preserving the variety's vivid dark-fruit character, followed by aging in a combination of large oak casks and smaller barriques to add structural support without overwhelming the grape's natural density. What sets Neprica apart within the crowded Salento IGT field is its deliberate blending philosophy — Primitivo forms the backbone but is joined by Negroamaro and Aglianico, two varieties that contribute acidity and spice architecture that pure Primitivo bottlings often lack. The result is a wine built for early drinking but with enough tannin grip to reward a year or two of cellaring.