San Marzano ’62 Anniversario’ Primitivo

In 1962, 19 winemakers, determined to demonstrate the high potential of wines from Salento, founded “Cantine San Marzano”. A long time has passed since then, yet their old vines still produce rare and precious grapes. Our job is to pick and enhance them, with a pinch of experience and a handful of innovation. The result is this intense, elegant Primitivo that ages well. Vine variety: Primitivo. Area: Very old vineyards selected in the area of San Marzano (TA) and Sava (TA). Soil: Finely textured residual red soil with a calcareous subsoil, sparse rocky outcrops and intense presence of iron oxides. Farming type: Head-trained bush vines at least sixty years old (5,000 per hectare). Grape harvest: Second half of September. Vinification: Very ripe grapes are harvested manually. The maceration takes place for 18 days on 80% of the grapes and for 25 days on 20%, with native yeasts selected in the vineyard. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 24-26 °C. Ageing: In French and American oak barriques for 18 months. Tasting notes: Very intense and elegant ruby red colour; broad and complex fruity fragrance with hints of plum, cherry jam and tobacco, slightly spicy; a full-bodied wine, smooth and rich in tannins, with an finish that offers notes of cocoa, coffee and vanilla. Best served with: Richly flavoured first courses, red meat and game. A meditation wine. Serving temperature: 18 °C.