Susumaniello 'Susco' San Marzano 2021
Unusual grapesThe Susumaniello "Susco" by San Marzano is an intense and enveloping red wine from Puglia coming from Salento, aged in oak barriques for about 6 months. It expresses density and sensory richness, with notes of cherries, spices like coffee and cocoa, Mediterranean herbs and toasted hints, while on the palate it is fresh and full-bodied, with good tannins and persistent.
The Susumaniello “Susco”, from the Apulian winery San Marzano, is produced with an ancient native dark-skinned grape variety from Salento, which is proving to possess a strong personality and excellent enological qualities. Its name comes from the characteristic of producing a lot of grapes in the early years. However, the progressive decrease in yields has often led to its abandonment in the past. The recovery of old vineyards has revealed that precisely when the plant produces few bunches, the grapes become richer and more concentrated in terms of aroma and capable of giving rise to great reds.
The “Susco” is a pure Susumaniello resulting from the enhancement work of the Salento territory and its historical grape varieties, carried out by one of the most important wineries in Puglia. San Marzano manages a vast estate of over 1500 hectares, with plots in particularly suited areas of the region. The Susumaniello grapes come from old vineyards cultivated in the coastal areas of the estate, characterized by a Mediterranean climate, warm and sunny, but mitigated by the constant presence of sea breezes. The soils are quite deep, consisting of a high percentage of dark sands, which make them particularly draining. The harvest usually takes place in the second half of September. The best bunches are quickly sent for fermentation with selected yeasts and with a skin maceration lasting about ten days. Before bottling, the wine matures for 6 months in French and American oak barriques.
The red Susumaniello “Susco” from San Marzano is the wine of the memory of the territory and tradition. In the glass, it presents a beautiful intense and bright ruby red. On the nose, it reveals a bouquet characterized by fragrant notes of ripe red fruit, accompanied by elegant sensations of soft oriental spices, hints of wild herbs from the Mediterranean scrub, balsamic nuances, and slightly oaky. Of good structure, it has an important tannic texture, smoothed by aging in wood and well integrated with ripe and rich fruity aromas, which lead to a harmonious and refreshing finish.