L’Archetipo Primitivo Salento 2022

Azienda L'Archetipo works in the Salento peninsula at the southern tip of Puglia, farming biodynamically under the Dibenedetto family. The wine is made from Primitivo, a grape that ripens early and to high sugar levels in the hot, dry southern Italian climate, giving a rich red with ripe fruit and generous alcohol. The maritime influence of the surrounding sea moderates the heat and helps preserve freshness. Production is natural, with no added yeasts and minimal intervention. The wine spends eighteen months in stainless steel tanks and a further eighteen months in oak barrels. The long tank ageing settles and stabilises the wine on its own terms, while the time in cask softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds a layer of spice and vanilla. The colour is deep ruby. The nose is ripe and forward, with dark plum, black cherry, dark chocolate and liquorice, a touch of raisin and pepper behind. The palate is full bodied and warm, the fruit sweet and concentrated, the tannins rounded into a long finish. Serve at 17 degrees, in a large glass. It suits hearty meat dishes and rich vegetable plates.