2007 Masseria Li Veli, Pezzo Morgana, Salice Salentino DOC Riserva, Apulia

The weighing of the harvest, G Palumbo, 1909-1932, Museo Provinciale S. Castromediano

Phylloxera first impacted French vineyards in 1863 then went on to devastate the rest of Europe. Apulia was one of the last regions to be affected. Vineyards flourished in the region as massive quantities of wine were exported.  The phylloxera arrival was catastrophic and it was not a productive wine region until after WWII.  The last several decades have seen increased attention paid to quality wines made from Negroamaro.

The Docks of Gallipoli, 1923, Collezione Aduino Sabato

Masseria Li Veli was originally founded by Marquis Antonio de Viti de Marco (1858-1943) as a model wine cellar for the South of Italy.  In 1999 the Falvo family bought the farm and set about extensive renovations.  The cellar is air-conditioned and full of the latest stainless steel fermentation tanks and French barriques.  The 33 hectares of vineyard have been restored and planted with Apulian varietals using the arberello system.

19th Century Wine Cart, Museo Prov. F. Ribezzo di Brindisi

This wine is 100% Negroamaro from vineyards located in Cellino San Marco and Contrada Morgana.  The vineyards lie at 70 meters and are composed of clay with limestone rocks.  The vines average ten years of age.  The grapes undergo temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel then are aged for 12 months in French barriques.  This is a good wine but too modern for my tastes.  I would save some money and buy the Taurino Notarpanaro instead.

2007 Li Veli, Pezzo Morgana, Salice Salentino DOC Riserva, Apulia
At first there is a light+ warm nose of plums.  On the second day the nose reveals tart, red fruits.  In the mouth there are soft flavors of dark red and blue fruit.  There are fine+ wood tannins that coat the mouth.  The enjoyable aftertaste has dark, gamey flavors.  This is an unabashedly modern wine.  ** Now-2015.