2022 Bocca di Lupo 'Locone' Cabernet

Aromas of wild blueberry, raspberry, and red currant integrate with savory notes of dried lavender, Mediterranean scrub, and wild arugula. The palate is medium-bodied and sleek, featuring a core of ripe forest fruit and hints of dark cocoa. It displays silky tannins and a zesty acidity that leads to a long finish marked by chalky mineral tones and a savory, balsamic persistence.

The winemaking team utilizes a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc harvested in late September. The grapes are destemmed, crushed, and fermented in stainless steel vats at controlled temperatures for roughly ten days. Following fermentation, the wine is transferred into oak barriques where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and matures for several months. This process balances primary fruit freshness with the refined structure provided by the oak aging.

The fruit is grown at the Tenuta Bocca di Lupo estate in the Castel del Monte DOC of Puglia, Italy. The site is defined by its high elevation (250 meters) in the rugged Murgia area near Minervino Murge, characterized by karst limestone and stony soils. This "poor" soil, combined with the dry, sunny climate of the region, produces a concentrated and mineral-driven expression of Cabernet that reflects the unique terroir of inland Puglia.