Attanasio Primitivo di Manduria Reserva 2016

Drink now or cellar for up to 14 years. No need to decant before serving. Giuseppe Attanasio founded his namesake estate in 2000 and today he works 8 hectares of vineyards in Manduria in Italy’s southern Salento region. Attanasio has been involved in winemaking for more than six decades and brings a wealth of experience to this young project working with the local Primitivo grape variety. Low yields, an extremely arid climate and great attention to detail mean that Attanasio only produces around 15,000 bottles per year in his cavernous cellar beneath a 19th century palace. Attanasio’s Reserva is sure to impress lovers of big, bold reds thanks to its classic southern Italian profile of ripe dark fruit flavours and a remarkably smooth texture. On the nose there are enticing aromas of cassis, dark cherry, licorice and mint while the first sip reveals plenty of ripe plum, jammy berries and sweet spices from the oak ageing. The wine is crafted from top quality fruit grown on bush vines on the typical local “terra rossa” or “red earth” soils. Attanasio vinifies the wines in stainless steel tanks with a lengthy maceration to capture the natural character of the grape variety. The young wines then age in 225 litre barrels for 12 months followed by 24 months in 114 litre French oak barrels.