Feudi di San Gregorio Primitivo di Manduria 2024

Feudi di San Gregorio, the Campanian winery founded in 1986, made this Primitivo in the DOC of Manduria in Puglia, the warm heel of southern Italy and home of the grape. Primitivo, the same variety as California's Zinfandel, ripens to high sugar in this hot, sunny coastal climate, which gives the wine its generous fruit and full body. The red soils over limestone and the maritime breezes off the nearby sea moderate the heat enough to keep the fruit from cooking, holding a thread of freshness. This wine is aged only in stainless steel, five months in tank and two in bottle, with no oak, a choice that locks in the bright, primary fruit and keeps the texture round and soft rather than tannic. The colour is deep, dense ruby. The nose is full of ripe cherry, strawberry, plum and a whisper of sweet spice and cocoa. The palate is rich and fruit driven, with soft tannins, gentle warmth from the ripe alcohol and a long, juicy finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It is a generous match for grilled and barbecued meats, pork, spiced and smoky dishes, and hard cheeses.