Alberto Longo, Cacc’e Mmitte di Lucera (Puglia, Italy) 2013

One of the advantages of an impossible to pronounce DOC, such as Cacc’e Mmitte di Lucera (very roughly, ca-tch-y mint-y di lu-chair-a) is that the wines are underpriced for what they deliver because consumers are afraid — or can’t — order them.  It’s worth learning a little Pugliese dialect because this wine is a great buy.  The DOC itself is tiny, smaller than New York’s Central Park, with only five producers.  Longo describes the DOC as “like a garden.”  And judging by this wine, he’s a careful gardener with a green thumb.  A blend mostly of Nero di Troia and Montepulciano di Abruzzo, the wine’s great floral character and zippy acidity is due to inclusion of a hefty (15%) amount of a white grape, Bambino Bianco.  The tannins are suave, providing needed structure without being aggressive or intrusive.  This mid-weight red would be perfect for pasta with a tomato-based fish sauce.