Date Tasted: 2/2021

This winery from Puglia has been greatly influenced by Greece, as evidenced by its labels. It offers a range of wines with undeniable quality in a price range that leads you to think about what is going wrong with them. Any wine I have tasted is delicious and always a good surprise. I feel blessed to find these wines in my hometown Kalamata. DOC is the right wine place!

Appearance: The colour is deep ruby.

Nose: It is ripe and intense, with a complex character mostly of red fruits, dried fig, rosemary and all kinds of spices. 

Palate: It is juicy and balanced with intense flavours of cherry, sour cherry, preserved fruits, vanilla and cumin. The acidity is high with medium juicy tannins and a medium body. It has excellent balance, and despite the high level, the alcohol is hidden. The aftertaste is long, juicy and pleasant. 

Drink or Hold: It is already delicious, but it has ageing potential.

Food Pairing: I paired it with several dishes like Argentine beef striploin, lentils and pepperoni pizza, all with great success, but by far, the better combination was the one with the lentils. 

Points: 92

Name: Orion

Producer: Masseria Li Veli

Variety: Primitivo

Vintage: 2018

Region: PGI Salento, Puglia, Italy

Alcohol: 14%

Retail Price: 18€

Serving temperature: 16-18 C°

Drink it until 2032.