The Tormaresca Masseria Maime is made from old vine negroamaro grapes in Puglia. The 2001 and 2002 versions were two of my best QPRs ever, coming in around $20 retail. A complex, funky nose with beautiful midpalate fruit and sweet grainy tannins on the long finish. Pairs nicely with food too. I have bought a few cases of these wines, but over the past two years or so, I have not gotten any offers. When I look on Winesearcher, I only see a few hits from the east coast-- some from shady dealers who do not have the wine in stock. The reputable dealers are selling this for $30 and up. I used to buy this from the Wine Club in SF. Does anyone know if the distribution has changed? To the retailers here-- what do you think of this wine and why aren’t you carrying it? Somehow this wine flies under the radar…
Maime has been a great wine, I agree! In Michigan, I remember selling the '01 for $25 retail, so, given that the exchange rate for the dollar has dropped from .84¢/Eur in early '02 to a peak of $1.6/Eur, and back to the current $1.4/Euro, I’d say the price increase to $30 for the current release ain’t too bad!
Even at $30 this wine is hard to find on the west coast for some reason. Max, time for a Berserker’s special!