Susumaniello 'Il Lemos' Leone de Castris 2023
Unusual grapesThe Susumaniello "Il Lemos" is a red wine from the Salento region that captivates with its fruity freshness and Mediterranean imprint. Briefly aged in steel, it colors the glass with its violet hue, releasing a rich symphony of red-fleshed fruits on the nose, accompanied by hints of spices, Mediterranean herbs, licorice, and floral fragrances. On the palate, it is enveloping, straightforward, and expressive, with a precious balance between softness and freshness, characterized by well-integrated tannins.
The Susumaniello “Il Lemos” from the famous Puglian winery Leone de Castris is an interesting label that is part of the Varietals Collection, specifically created to give voice and showcase, in their best expression, the historic grape varieties of the Salento land. In particular, Susumaniello is a variety rediscovered only recently and always somewhat overshadowed by Primitivo and Negroamaro, which represent the two ambassadors of Puglian wines in the world. However, low-yield cultivations and careful vinifications have highlighted a wine of great personality, characterized by pleasant and elegant fruity aromas, accompanied by intense notes of aromatic herbs. It is a perfect red to pair with ragù pasta dishes, roasted white meats, or grilled meat.
“Il Lemos” is a Susumaniello that originates from a historic reality of Salento. The Leone de Castris winery has its roots in past centuries and today manages a large estate of over 300 hectares, partly dedicated to viticulture and the rest to olive groves and arable land. Always attentive to the cultivation and enhancement of the indigenous grape varieties of the territory, wanted to recover the Susumaniello grape to make its excellent qualities known. The warm and always very breezy climate, thanks to the constant presence of sea breezes and the medium-textured soils, have always been an ideal habitat for red grape varieties. The vines are about 10 years old and are cultivated according to the ancient tradition of the Puglian alberello. At the end of the classic fermentation in temperature-controlled steel tanks, with maceration on the skins for a couple of weeks, the wine matures for a couple of months in steel tanks before being bottled.
The Lemos de Castris is a label with a strong territorial connotation, the result of the desire to rediscover the ancient origins of the millennial tradition of Puglian wine. It is the bottle for those who want to know the authentic face of Salento, through an indigenous grape variety, with a warm and Mediterranean profile, still to be discovered. In the glass, it presents an intense purple-red color. On the nose,is rich, with aromas of small dark-skinned fruits, currant, cherry, blueberry, aromas of Mediterranean scrub herbs, licorice root, and delicate floral nuances. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with fragrant and juicy aromas, ripe and soft, a fine tannic texture, and a pleasantly fresh finish.