From larger-than-life winemaker Ninì Palamà comes this powerfully built, yet enchantingly elegant Negroamaro named for Ninì’s father and mentor, Arcangelo. This vibrant Negroamaro from Salento is at the cutting edge of Puglian winemaking today. Clean, yet not stripped of character, it boasts layered aromas of steeped spices. A fantastic value, we would humbly place this wine amongst the best, most expressive, fresh-style wines from southern Italy.

Palamà is a small estate in a sea of gigantic producers – a speck of an island on the Salento Peninsula – and they would have it no other way. With perhaps the lowest yields in the entire appellation, Palamà is committed to the highest quality “everyday” wines that can be produced, without the fuss of new oak, just ripe, fresh, powerful fruit. His Primitivo is a delight; lush, yet bright and approachable, with notes of dark anise, cedar, and blackberry confit.

Since 1936, the Palamà family has been making wine on their small estate in the warm climes of Italy’s deep south, in Puglia. This unoaked red is expressive, rich, and earthy on the palate, with an elegance that comes only from small productions and expert craftsmanship. With aromas of steeped plums, blackberry confit, cracked pepper and cinnamon, it is a fascinating, delicious experience.

From its deep, vibrant hue to its palpable tannins and big-boned acidic structure, this Puglian rosato stands apart from so many others in so many ways! Bursting with aromas of wild strawberries, this wine has a lush succulence to it, with loads of terra rosa minerality and fresh Mediterranean fruit. To boot, 2020 was a sunny year with low rainfall, resulting in Negroamaro of even greater concentration.

Largely forgotten and all but lost to the Salento until about 10 years ago, the fascinating Susumaniello grape has the highest levels of anthocyanins (pigments) in the sub-region, lending the wine its deep, vibrant hue. Ripe dark fruit, high natural acidity, and structural complexity all combine for a lush yet clean glass of wine - just as tasty as it is rare. Earthy, herbal undertones lend further to its overall intrigue and food friendliness. Less than 700 cases made.

Verdeca is a fascinating, ancient white varietal from Puglia, and its origins are shrouded in mystery. It is thought through clonal research to be distantly related to both Verdicchio and Rueda's Verdejo, and one sip of this beauty from Palamà, and you'll know why. Bright, taut, and surprisingly "cool climate" in its complexion, this Verdeca succeeds in part because it is handmade by one of Southern Italy's greatest makers of rosato (so Nini' Palamà understands "crystalline" wines). With notes of lime, pomelo, and mint oil, it has a gravelly under-girding that provides terrific structure. Lovely!