"Tormaresca" By Antinori Neprica Cabernet Sauvignon IGT

Tormaresca, Antinori's Salento estate, sits on the Adriatic-facing slopes of Puglia's southernmost peninsula, where volcanic limestone and clay soils drain rapidly across 80–120 metres elevation. The region's continental summer heat and maritime moderation create extended ripening windows rare for Italy's heel.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel, then aged 12 months in French oak (mix of new and neutral vessels). The protocol preserves varietal definition while building mid-palate weight—a deliberate counterpoint to Antinori's Tuscan Cabernet protocols, which favour earlier extraction.

The transgression: Cabernet in Puglia remains uncommon. Tormaresca's commitment to this variety on volcanic limestone—rather than the region's native Negroamaro—reflects a calculated bet that Salento's mineral substrate can anchor Cabernet's darker fruit without flabbiness. The result carries the wine's own geological signature, not a Tuscan echo.

Drink 2024–2032. Peak now through 2028.