San Marzano is one of my favourite Italian growers. They are a cooperative of over 1200 individual small holdings in Puglia whose sole mission is to produce the best quality grapes possible to make the most amazing wine possible. These smallholdings don't really make money from anything else and there could be just a dozen or so vines and as many as 1000.
Each of these individual families gets looked after by the skilled winemaking team at San Marzano to ensure the best practices are followed and the finest possible crop is made each year. This involves weekly visits and hand-holding where necessary to ensure premium fruit at the time of harvest.
This case of monumental red wines has been carefully chosen to showcase the magnificence of this region and how Italy can produce world-class wines that have instant appeal.
We start this case with the Big Boys.....
62 Anniversario Primitivo di Manduria.
One of the finest if not THE finest Primitivo's I have ever had!
Immense fruit complexity, silky smooth tannins, incredible depth
of flavour and a finish that lasts around a week!
You WILL beg me to sell you more!
Vindoro Negroamaro
Described as an orgasm in a glass on more than one occasion!
This has a similar strength of character, smooth as silk knickers, with oodles of richness and fruit complexity yet it is remarkably different to the 62 Anniversario.
Talo Primitivo
The younger brother of the 62 Anniversario and on sale in one of
Heston's restaurants for £55 a bottle!
Rich, intense and brooding it's easier to drink than the 62 but still a beast of a wine.
Talo Malvasia Nera
A local varietal that was often used in blending but when
it's this good it shines as single grape wine. Thick ruby red;
intense and complex bouquet with notes of red fruits and
spices. A full-bodied wine with a pleasantly smooth impact
and a long finish.
Il Pumo Salice Salentino
This is simply one of the best value for money wines I sell.
A blend of Malvasia Nera and Negroamaro it's a deep ruby red wine with
an intense bouquet of cherry, plum and spicy notes combined with a hint
of Mediterranean herbs. Full-bodied with a pleasantly fresh finish.
Il Pumo Primitivo
San Marzano's fame in the UK was started with this wine,
formally known as Lucarelli it shone way above all the
other examples available and still maintains its status as
an outstanding red wine for the price point.
A fabulous wine for Tuesday night drinking without the
guilt because of cost.
