Masseria Capoforte - Supplier Focus

A row of vines heavy with black grapes on pale, stony soil at Masseria Capoforte — Vines on the stony soils of the estate Photo: Masseria Capoforte

The family

From the Veneto to the heel of Italy.

Ettore Ceschin comes from an old winemaking family in the Veneto. He carried that craft the length of the country, down to an estate on the coast just outside Taranto.

There’s no house recipe at Capoforte. Each wine is treated on its own terms, which is why the range runs from a barrel-aged Aglianico built for the cellar to a sparkling red for the end of the night.

A dry-stone wall in front of the vineyards under a blue sky — Dry-stone walls around the vineyards · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

On our list

10 wines

Four reds, two whites, a rosé and three sparkling wines, all from the Capoforte estate.

Sun, sea wind and tufa

The vineyards sit in Contrada Morrone Palombara, on clay and sand over a bed of tufa. Down here the sun ripens everything fully, and the winds coming in off the sea keep the wines fresh, so even the biggest reds carry a lift alongside their warmth.

The estate works with Salento’s own grapes, Primitivo and Negroamaro, alongside southern varieties such as Fiano and Falanghina, and Aglianico, a grape you’d expect to find in Campania or Basilicata rather than this far south.

Two hands holding a scoop of pale, sandy vineyard soil — Sand and clay over tufa · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

A close-up of ripe golden white grapes in the sun — White grapes ripening in the Salento sun · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

Harvest

By the time the grapes are picked, the sun has done its work. The fruit comes in fully ripe, and the sea air keeps the finished wines fresh rather than heavy.

Two pickers carrying a crate of black grapes between the vines — Carrying the crates through the rows · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

A picker working along a row of vines at harvest — Picking along the rows · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

Red crates full of freshly picked black grapes under a stormy sky — Black grapes fresh from the vineyard · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

Patience in the cellar

The top reds are given time. Primocapo, the estate’s Primitivo di Manduria Riserva, spends 18 months in barrel, and Arcorato, the Aglianico, a full 24 months before it’s released.

A man with arms folded among oak barrels in the Capoforte cellar — The barrel cellar at Capoforte · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

In the barrel

24 months

The time Arcorato, the estate’s Aglianico, spends in barrel before release.

An oak barrel branded Primocapo, Masseria Capoforte — A Primocapo barrel · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

Bottles of Primocapo in a wooden case beside a glass of red wine — Primocapo in its wooden case · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

On our list

The Capoforte wines we import

Ten wines, from a barrel-aged Aglianico to a sparkling red. See the full range.

The selections

03 wines / Puglia

01 Masseria Capoforte

Aglianico Salento IGT ‘Arcorato’ 2016

Aglianico · Red

Masseria Capoforte Arcorato Aglianico Salento IGT 2016

Red wine

The one to know: Aglianico, grown far from its usual home.

After 24 months in barrel it opens with cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, tobacco and roasted coffee, then cherry and strawberry. Rich and warm, with refined tannins, fresh acidity and a long, dry, savoury finish. Built to age, and drinking well now at ten years old.

GrapeAglianico

Oak24 months in barrel

Vintage2016

Case size6 x 75cl

SKUARCO

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02 Masseria Capoforte

Primitivo di Manduria Riserva DOC ‘Primocapo’

Primitivo · Red

Masseria Capoforte Primocapo Primitivo di Manduria Riserva DOC

Red wine

The estate’s Primitivo Riserva, with 18 months in barrel.

Deep, dark ruby. Plum jam, sour cherry and blueberry, followed by vanilla, a touch of cinnamon, toast and tobacco. Powerful and well balanced, with impressive tannins and a long, dry finish that brings back the plum and spice.

GrapePrimitivo

Oak18 months in barrel

Case size6 x 75cl

SKUPRIMO

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03 Masseria Capoforte

Primitivo Salento IGT

Primitivo · Red

Red wine

One of the most popular wines on our list.

Wild berries, dark cherry and plum, with tobacco leaf, espresso, vanilla and cocoa. Velvety and rounded, with fine-grained tannins and enough acidity to keep it crisp.

GrapePrimitivo

Case size6 x 75cl

SKUPRIM

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A bottle of Arcorato Aglianico among dry grasses with the sea behind — Arcorato by the sea · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

Close-up of the Masseria Capoforte Primitivo label — The Capoforte Primitivo · Photo: @twowinemerchants

More reds

01 wine / Puglia

Negroamaro Salento IGT

Salento’s signature grape. Cherry, plum, vanilla, tobacco leaf and espresso; warm and full, with soft tannins and a dry, persistent finish.

Red · NEGRO

Long rows of vines stretching away at harvest time — The vineyards at harvest · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

Whites

02 wines / Puglia

Two full-bodied southern whites, generous in fruit and kept fresh by the sea air.

Fiano Salento IGT

Citron, lemon, wildflowers and chamomile. Full-bodied and fresh, with a long, full-flavoured finish.

White · FIAN
Falanghina Salento IGT

Pineapple, apricot and a hint of thyme, with a salty, mineral edge. Rich and warm, with a velvety finish.

White · FALANC

Two glasses of rosé raised in a toast over a table — A rosé toast · Photo: Masseria Capoforte

Bottles of Capoforte Brut and Papanero in front of a Christmas tree — Brut and Papanero, ready for the festive season · Photo: @_vivavino

Rosé & sparkling

04 wines / Puglia

A dry, saline rosé, plus three sparkling wines made by the Martinotti method to keep the fruit bright.

Negroamaro Rosato Salento IGT

Peach-blossom pink, with lychee, peach and wild berries. Saline and dry, after five months on its lees in steel.

Rosé · NEGRO1
Cuvée Spumante Brut (Falanghina)

Citrus, crisp apple and white flowers, with a clean, dry finish. Made for an aperitivo by the sea.

Sparkling · SPUM4
Cuvée Spumante Rosato (Aglianico)

Strawberry, raspberry and rose petals. Dry and saline, with lively acidity.

Sparkling rosé · SPUM3
Papanero Cuvée Spumante Dry

A sparkling red with strawberry, cherry, blackberry and violet, and a gentle sweetness. Something different to finish the night.

Sparkling red · PAPAN