Italian wine and grape guide : Ottavianello

The Ottavianello vine is best known by its French name, Cinsault. It seems to have been imported from France by the Marquis of Brugnano, who spread through the area around Brindisi (San Vito dei Normanni) and Naples, to Ottaviano, a place that most probably gave it its name. In Apulia it is sometimes used to add strength to fragrances of certain red grapes and only in the DOC Ostuni we find it vinified in under purity: Ostuni Ottavianello. The berry is black, medium, ellipsoid, with waxy skin, of delicate violet color. The bunch is medium, pyramidal, elongated and average tightened with a medium, pentagonal, five-lobed leaf. The Ottavianello vine has discreet vegetative vigor and good productivity. The grape Ottavianello gives a ruby red wine that over the years can become garnet. It has olfactory hints of nuts (hazelnuts and almonds) and some spices, and a slightly aromatic flavor, soft and persistent.