Castel di Salve, Aleatico Passito
Castel di Salve is one of Puglia's historic wineries, founded in 1885 by Antonio Winspeare, Duke of Salve. At the time, it was the first cellar in Salento to age and bottle wine, with Bordelese oenologist Simon Murat at the helm. This passito comes from the same vineyards the family has cultivated for five generations.
What you smell
Ripe plum that has dried in the sun, with a spicy, balsamic note of sage.
What you taste
Warm, powerful, and sweet, but never cloying. The fresh acidity and a slight grip from the tannins keep the sweetness in check, allowing the wine to linger and age well in the bottle.
How it's made
100% Aleatico, hand-picked in mid-September and laid on racks. The grapes dry for approximately 40 days under controlled temperature and humidity, concentrating sugars and aromas. Fermentation on the skins at controlled temperature, followed by 12 months of aging in stainless steel to preserve the pure fruit expression.
Serving
Serve at 14 °C in a small wine glass. Decanting is not necessary.
Pairs well with
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Almond cake or cantucci: the dried fruit and spiciness in the wine mirror the nuts and butter in the pastry.
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Blue cheese (Gorgonzola, Roquefort): the sweetness balances the salt and sharpness of the cheese.
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Dark chocolate dessert with dried figs: the plummy, balsamic notes enhance the dark fruit and cocoa.
