Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Tenuta Bocca di Lupo 2021 Cabernet Franc Arso represents a new project for this Puglia estate owned by the Antinori family of Tuscany. Cabernet Franc is a grape they have planted in various family-run estates throughout Italy, and they remain very enthusiastic with the results. Cabernet Sauvignon, they worried, might render results that are too dark and heavy in this hot region. With a mere 2,387 bottles produced, this Cabernet Franc shows the muscle and power of Puglia with exuberant fruit, peppercorn and pencil shavings. The tannins are resolved, and only at the end do you feel some of the sun-ripened and raisiny aromas that are characteristic of this part of Southern Italy. Arso is envisaged as top-shelf wine that celebrates winemaking excellence in Puglia.
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.
Well-suited to the production of concentrated, fruity and spicy red varieties, Puglia is one of Italy’s warmest, most southerly regions. Its entire eastern side is one long coastline bordering the Adriatic Sea. About half way down, the region becomes the Salento Peninsula. This peninsula, bordered by water on three sides, receives moist, nighttime, sea breezes that bring a welcome cooling effect to the region, where little rain creates a challenging environment for its vines. In fact, the region is named for the Italian expression, “a pluvia,” meaning “lack of rain.”
Puglia’s Mediterranean climate and iron-rich, calcareous soils support the indigenous Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero di Troia. Primitivo produces an inky, spicy, brambly and ripe red wine whose best expression comes from Manduria. Nero di Troia produces tannic, rustic reds from Castel del Monte DOC while Negroamaro, typically blended with Malvasia nera, plays a large part in may blends made throughout the peninsula.
Puglia produces a small amount of white wines as well, predominantly made of the fruity, Trebbiano Toscano, or light, Bombino bianco grapes.