Lirica Primitivo di Manduria 2023

Primitivo rarely makes a shy wine and those from the Manduria area of Puglia do absolutely nothing to contradict that reputation. The Produttori di Manduria co-op works with small growers - many of them organic - to produce some of the region's best examples, and this is one of their top wines. Bold, rich, and full of character, it's packed with ripe cherry, plum, and dark fruit, layered with sweet spice, liquorice, and a touch of savouriness. The palate is broad and generous, with mild tannins and rich, ripe fruit, all balanced by bright, clean acidity. Big and powerful, but with a smoothness that makes it dangerously easy to drink and a little bit decadent.

Brilliantly food-friendly, this bold Primitivo is a great match for things like slow-cooked lamb tagine with apricots, a rich beef ragù, or spicy merguez sausages - big flavours that meet their match.

Produttori di Manduria is Puglia's oldest cooperative, set up in 1932 with just 17 growers, who, nowadays have over 400 members who, collectively, cultivate more than 2,000 hectares of vines. They've long been champions of Primitivo going back long before it was the fashionable grape it is today. And while wines made from this grape forms the backbone of their production, they also make a number of very interesting whites and this is where the local variety Fiano comes into its own. They're keen to keep their standards to the highest level and this is borne out by the awards they regularly achieve right across their range.