Taurino Notarpanaro 2006

A wine of unmistakable personality, Taurino's Salice Salentino has introduced many Americans to the pleasure of Apulian wine. Intense ruby red in color with orange reflections, its unique flavor profile offers red berries, herbs and black cherries. On the palate, it is dry, well balanced and full bodied with a slight bitterness on the finish.

The question mark beside the score of the 1999 Notarpanaro relates to its controversial late harvest Amarone-like notes along with a touch of volatile acidity. Its big, spicy, earthy nose is reminiscent of burning tobacco intermixed with aged beef, ashes, and sweet cheese. Not for everybody, it is an authentic, rustic southern Italian red made in an old style. Drink this fascinating effort over the next 2-3 years.

Deep red. Reticent aromas of red currant, roasted herbs and exotic spices. Sweet and fat but vinous; full and generous. The slightly roasted cherry and raspberry flavors are nicely shaped by ripe acids that also extend the finish. Big but not heavy, with rather fine tannins.

The outstanding 1997 Notarpanaro was fashioned from an identical blend [to the 1999 Salice Salentino: 85% Negramaro and 15% Malvasia Nero], but spent over three years in French oak, of which one-third was new. It exhibits a distinctive earthy nose of creosote, scorched earth, pepper, spice, black cherries, and licorice. Full-bodied, well-balanced, and cleanly made, with abundant glycerin, power, and richness, it would be a perfect foil for leg of lamb. Consume it over the next 5-6 years.

The barrique-aged (one-third new) 1995 Notarpanaro is a dense, rich, full-bodied wine displaying licorice, dried fruit, pepper, truffle, and spice characteristics. Filled with personality, it possesses rustic tannin, but plenty of depth as well as a chewy, muscular, robust finish. It should drink well for 4-5 years.

An outstanding red from the Salento region, the Notarpanaro has a fully developed bouquet of dried herbs, exotic spices, anise, truffles, smoke, and deep forest scents. Lavish cherry and plum flavors explode on the palate, and a portal opens up to another place and time, and you find yourself back in the Renaissance period, writing Italian poetry. Well, maybe I got a little carried away, but you know what I mean, a taste of Italy will do that to you.

Notarpanaro is the name of a single vineyard, estate-bottled red wine. It is made from a blend of two indigenous grapes, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera. The wine reveals an intense ruby red color, full, rich, expansive flavors and an elegant feel on the palate. Serve as an accompaniment to flavorful, rich dishes; particularly meats and aged cheeses. If you like Dr. Taurino's Salice Salentino, you'll LOVE his Notarpanaro!