Pilu Niuru: the Pugliese Negroamaro Awarded in China

A family lunch and a lit fireplace: this is how today's tasting begins.
The product I am about to describe is born from the dedication of the workers at Taurosso, a Salentine winery that makes native grape varieties and hand-harvesting its trademarks.
The wine we are going to drink, paired simply with a roast of white and red meat, is "Pilu Niuru" 2013 Numerato Salento IGT.
This is a bottle that seduces, above all for its unusual name that hints at an air of mystery. It brings to mind the taranta and a particularly full-bodied wine.
The charm is undeniable – the winery will tell you so repeatedly, both on their website and in every communication related to the product.
Let's return to the name of our wine: "Pilu Niuru"; according to legend, Negroamaro (niurumaru), the typical wine of the area, was made from grapes harvested and trodden barefoot exclusively by fascinating Salentine women with long black hair.
Salentine women – among the most beautiful, without a doubt!

The color is an intense ruby red with the characteristic orange "rim" of Negroamaro; left to breathe a little, it releases aromas of red fruits – we can pick out blueberry, and there are vague hints of pepper and cinnamon.
On the palate, an initial balsamic note that doesn't thrill me but which fades as the product is left to settle a little; the tannins are delicate and unobtrusive, and the oak aging does not come across as invasive as it sometimes does in certain wineries.
A pleasant product – good, but without particular pretensions, ideal for everyday lunch and dinner given its affordable price.
Worth noting is that this wine won the silver medal at the China Wine Awards in 2012 (the gold went to Patrimonio, another "favourite" of Elio Taurino) and it seems to be quite popular among Asian winelovers.
One explanation is linked to the marketing of this product, which is explicitly tied to feminine beauty – the Chinese have in fact fallen in love with the bottle's testimonial.
Our compliments to the company's commercial foresight and marketing vision – aspects that, in Italy, especially in the south, are often overlooked.
"Scelta di vite" reads a Taurosso advertisement – "and not only" we are tempted to add!