A Mano Primitivo di Puglia 2023

This is Mark Shannon & Elvezia Sbalchiero's real labour of love, Primitivo being a grape for which they have a real passion. The vines used are old, between 70 and 100 years, with low yields making for great concentration. The wine is deep red in colour. And on the nose, there are intense aromas of ripe dark fruit, especially blackberries and cherries, with spicy notes of cocoa, lavender and liquorice. The palate is youthful and full-bodied, with a great concentration of ripe and rounded fruit.

Its elegance, freshness and complexity go well with meaty beef and venison recipes.

Californian Mark Shannon and his partner Elvezia Sbalchiero originally from northern Italy, who together form A Mano, fell in love with the Primitivo grape found in the Puglian heel of Italy in the late 1990s and subsequently set about making their mark using what was, at the time, a somewhat neglected variety. They've since succeeded in making Primitivo one of Italy's most talked about grape varieties. They don't have extensive vineyards of their own but by focussing solely on quality, a modern winemaking style and by being prepared to pay top prices for the best old vine grapes, they have revolutionised the style and quality of Puglian Primitivo.