Winery / Producer: Leone de Castris (Aristocratic winemakers of Apulia since 1665).

Region of Origin: D.O.C. Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva, Salento, Apulia (Puglia), Italy.

Grape Variety: Primarily Negroamaro from old vines with meticulous clonal selection.

Wine Type: Ultra-premium, collectible still red wine (Author's Riserva).

Sweetness Classification: Dry.

Vinification and Aging: Manual harvesting in small crates with double bunch selection at the winery. Prolonged skin maceration at strictly controlled temperatures for 14 to 18 days for perfect polyphenol extraction. Malolactic fermentation is carried out entirely in oak barrels. Subsequently, the wine matures for 18 to 24 months in new French oak barrels, followed by a prolonged bottle aging of at least one year.

Alcohol Content: 14.5% Vol.

Serving Temperature: 16°C - 18°C (It is imperative to decant a minimum of 45 to 60 minutes before serving).

SKU / MPN: IT-LC-DLISSA-RS-750ML

Appearance: Displays an imposing, dense, deep, and opaque ruby red color, with sophisticated garnet and brick red highlights at the rim confirming its masterful evolution.

Nose: An aristocratic, three-dimensional, and supremely complex bouquet. It immediately unfolds sublime notes of black mulberry jam, prunes, and candied figs. As it opens, the glass is flooded with sumptuous tertiary aromas of dark chocolate, espresso, pipe tobacco, Madagascar vanilla, licorice, and a fresh, unmistakable balsamic breath of eucalyptus and Mediterranean menthol.

Palate: Superb, broad, and overwhelmingly sumptuous entry. On the palate, it is strictly dry, exhibiting a monumental structure and a full, dense body. The tannins are a velvety caress of impeccable ripeness and firmness. It displays a noble and vibrant acidity that masterfully balances its concentration and alcoholic warmth. The finish is extraordinarily long, majestic, and eternal, with a refined aftertaste evoking fine spices, roasted cocoa, and baked dark fruits.

Precision Gourmet Pairing: Donna Lissa is a cult wine that demands haute couture gastronomic dishes that live up to its imposing structure. It harmonizes sublimely with hyper-aged premium red meat cuts (such as grilled Wagyu, Tomahawk, or Porterhouse), slow-roasted lamb with fine spices, duck magret with black fruit reduction, and large game meats like wild boar or venison in complex stews. It is the perfect companion for dishes with fresh black truffles, very creamy porcini mushroom risottos, and truffled lasagnas. It culminates the experience celestially when paired with ultra-aged and complex cheese boards (such as long-aged Parmigiano Reggiano, Roquefort, or aged Pecorino) and even with dark chocolate desserts with a high percentage of cocoa.

Suggested Moments:

• Special Celebration (Major Milestones): The definitive bottle to commemorate life's most significant moments: silver or gold anniversaries, highly relevant anniversaries, inaugurations, or a gala toast where only the exceptional is acceptable.
• Business (High-Level Dinners): Opening Donna Lissa Rosso Riserva is a statement of maximum status, respect, and connoisseur knowledge. The supreme ally for celebrating historic business alliances and signing memorable agreements.
• The Perfect Gift (Cult): A monumental and infallible gift for major collectors, sommeliers, and true connoisseurs who value the most exclusive, rare, and award-winning labels of the Old World.
• Ultra-Gourmet Barbecue: Ideal for transforming a barbecue evening into a private, first-class gastronomic experience, accompanying imported cuts of superior marbling.
• Exclusive Family Meal: To preside over the table at the most important banquets of the year, turning a festive dinner or meal into an unforgettable memory for the entire family.

What is the specific origin and winery of this red wine?

This author's and collectible wine is produced by the legendary and centennial Leone de Castris winery, founded in 1665. Its specific origin is strictly located under the prestigious D.O.C. Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva designation, in the Salento peninsula, Apulia (Puglia) region, Italy.

Is this wine dry, semi-dry, or sweet?

Donna Lissa Rosso Riserva is a strictly dry wine. It offers an opulent, dense, and extremely unctuous journey thanks to the concentration of its old vineyards, but it is completely free of residual sugar, culminating in a clean, noble, and very sophisticated finish.

Why is Donna Lissa considered Leone de Castris' cult wine?

Donna Lissa represents the winery's strictest selection. It is produced only in perfect climatic vintages from old Negroamaro vines with very low yield but extraordinary concentration, receiving the most meticulous and prolonged aging treatment in new barrels from the estate.

Is it necessary to decant it, and what is its aging potential in a cellar?

Yes, due to its monumental concentration, structural complexity, and long barrel aging, it imperatively requires decanting for 45 to 60 minutes before serving to allow its aromatic layers to express themselves. As for its aging potential, it is extraordinary: it will evolve sublimely in a cellar for the next 8 to 15 years.