The Masso Antico Negroamaro from Salento, Puglia, comes with a reputation that sets high expectations. Awarded a gold medal at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge 2021 and rated 4.1 on Vivino, not to mention its IWSC bronze, this organic wine certainly has a lot to live up to.
Upon uncorking, the first thing that strikes you is the colour—a youthful and thin hue that suggests a relatively young vintage, although the bottle doesn’t specify the year. The bouquet is advertised as intense, but I found it less so, lacking the robustness one might expect from a Negroamaro, a grape variety I usually favour.
On the palate, the wine offers notes of blackberry and plums, true to its description. The tannins are ok, providing a decent structure, but the overall mouthfeel seems a bit thin, especially when compared to the Asda Wine Atlas Negroamaro, a previous favourite of mine and also an IWC Gold Medal Winner, but no longer available. That previous wine had a richness and complexity that this one doesn’t quite match.
Price-wise, it’s currently available for £8 at Asda, although I purchased it for £10 with a 25% off discount, effectively paying £7.50. This fluctuation in pricing suggests some price manipulation over time.
The Masso Antico Negroamaro is a decent wine but doesn’t quite meet the high expectations set by its awards and my previous experiences with this grape variety. It’s a reasonable choice for an everyday wine or if you want a ‘lighter’ version of Negroamaro.
