Francesco Marra Primitivo Rosato 2024

Francesco Marra is a winemaker in Salento, the southern tip of Puglia, who has revived traditional viticulture in his cellar. This rosato is made from Primitivo, the ripe dark skinned grape of the region, and fermented in local terracotta amphorae called capases, vessels used since antiquity for storing and fermenting wine. The hot dry Salento climate, cooled by sea breezes from two coasts, ripens Primitivo to a generous fourteen percent, and the brief skin contact for a rosé draws a deeper colour and more fruit weight. The porous terracotta allows a gentle oxygen exchange during fermentation without adding any oak flavour, giving the wine texture and a savoury edge while the natural and organic farming keeps the focus on clean fruit. The colour is a deep pink. The nose shows ripe red cherry, raspberry and plum with a dried herb note. The palate is dry and full bodied for a rosé, the ripe fruit balanced by fresh acidity and a faint savoury grip, finishing long. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a larger glass alongside richer dishes.