Susumaniello is an indigenous grape variety of Southern Italy, cultivated mainly in Apulia, in the provinces of Brindisi and Taranto. An ancient vine, it was long neglected, almost to the point of extinction, only to be - fortunately - recovered in recent decades. Susumaniello produces well-structured, balanced and complex red wines with a good capacity for ageing. Just like this Antièri, the latest wine produced by the Schola Sarmenti winery. A wine that - as its producers write on the winery website - knows how to be strong but with grace, managing to strike with its complex and delicate aromas. It comes from vines that are about 8 years old. Grapes are hand-picked and delicately placed in small ventilated boxes to preserve their integrity. In the cellar, they are then further sorted on a modern sorting table. After vinification, the wine matures for about a year in French oak barrels, acquiring personality and great charm. Compact red, the nose is surprising in its intensity, with clear hints of blueberries and ripe fruit. In the mouth, however, it is pleasantly tannic. A powerful but balanced wine. A red that cries out for a decisive pairing. Red meats and game. Cheeses and spicy dishes.