A magnificent magnum of wine just begs to be shared - after all, it contains the equivalent of two bottles of wine in one! So, when I received a gorgeous large format bottle of Castello Monaci Artas Primitivo Salento IGT 2010 ($93) from my friends at Frederick Wildman & Sons, I invited my pal Raffaele D'Amore, proprietor of D'Amore Wine Bar & Caffe in East Harlem, to join me for a glass. D'Amore is one of my favorite neighborhood spots - this cozy restaurant has a wonderful international wine list and a diverse menu of Italian cuisine.
Raffaele D'Amore, of D'Amore Wine Ba & Caffe, joined me in tasting Castello Monaci Artas Primitivo Salento.
And, what did Raffaele of D'Amore Wine Bar & Caffe say about Castello Monaci Artes Primitivo Salento? "Rich in the body at the nose, a lot of fruit, velvety and licorice at the palate. Light on tannins with a gentle touch of acidity and a nice long finish." That's a pretty rave review! I also loved the wine's beautiful layers of flavors - rich berry with a touch of peppery spice and a subtle hint of oak. Castello Monaci Artas Primitivo is a well-balanced and full-bodied vino.
Located in Southern Italy in the Salento region of Puglia, Castello Monaci is committed to producing quality wines with indigenous grapes. Made from 100% Primitivo grapes, Castello Monaci Artes 2010 is a rich and expressive red wine. It paired beautifully with the hearty homemade pappardelle pasta with meat sauce on D'Amore's menu. If you find yourself in Salento, visit their tasting room. And, if you're in NYC, sip and mangia at D'Amore!
PS. Over the summer, D'Amore was featured on ABC7 and yours truly was asked to share my opinion about this neighborhood gem - click here to watch the video.
