This is new to Laithwaites, and it comes from a tiny Italian wine region that is easy to overlook. Galatina, down in Puglia, is so small that the whole region produces roughly the same amount of wine as one medium-sized Italian estate.
Rather unexpectedly, I found out more about the label on LinkedIn. It was designed by Miguel de Almeida Design. The central design takes its inspiration from the Torravento monastery in the Galatina area, along with the local tradition of the tarantata. This is connected with the historical belief that people bitten by a spider could be cured, or even exorcised, through frenzied ritual dancing, part of the cultural background behind Salento’s famous tarantella and pizzica (folk dancing) traditions. According to the designer, both references have been worked into the central roundel, while the typography, premium print treatments and restrained overall look deliberately recall the elegance of Italian wine labels from the 1970s.
The wine itself is 100% Negroamaro and comes in at 12.5% alcohol. Unusually, there is no vintage shown on the bottle, although I have been told that this is the 2025.
There is a smoky character straight away, alongside dark black fruit, very much the classic Negroamaro style. Black cherry, blackberry and dark plum come through clearly, with a touch of chocolate underneath. It is dry, medium to full bodied and nicely rounded in the mouth, with low to medium tannins. Importantly, it does not have the unwanted bitterness that some Negroamaro can show, nor does it stray into the sweetness you sometimes find in supermarket examples. One tip, though, this is not a second-day wine. Rather unusually, I found it was not as good on subsequent days, so get some family and/or friends round and enjoy the bottle in one session.
It is currently £17.00 a bottle at Laithwaites, which perhaps feels a little high, although it has previously been seen at £11.99 as part of a Mix 12 offer. So, best to keep an eye on Laithwaites’ offers.
