2016 Es Primitivo di Manduria

Gianfranco Fino gives us another treat in the form of the decadently rich and unctuous 2016 Primitivo di Manduria Es. This is a landmark wine from Puglia that expertly weaves together concentration, richness and power, resulting in one of the most emblematic wines to emerge from the sun-scorched instep of Italy's boot. This Primitivo, drawn from vineyards less than 100 meters from the sea-level stretch of Greek settlements along the Ionian, weighs in with a Herculean 16.5% alcoholic content. Thanks to nine months of barrique aging, you get plenty of sweet spice and mesquite on the close. The 2016 vintage offers bright fruit with plum, prune and dried blackberry, perfect for a heavy potato, tomato and red meat stew. Some 15,000 bottles were made.