Primitivo di Manduria

[Thomas]

2002 Pichierri (Vinicola Savese, producer). It's the Terrarossa. (Italian labels come with more names than years of a Spanish family with marriage additions to the surname.)

For those who may not believe that Primitivo and Zinfandel share DNA, you've got to taste this baby.

Beautifully structured like the old-style Louis Martini and Sebastiani Zinfandels, with a raspy quality that makes me think of what stalks from a raspberry bush might taste like. The wine is subtle, yet intensely warm (14%).

It's about $19 for those without proper industry connections...



[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 01-22-2005).]

[Innkeeper]

Sounds like a good one. Also, agree completely on your observations about Italian labels. Frequently the producer is in small print on the back label, and it is also frequently difficult to separate an unfamiliar subregion from a proprietary name; or tell which is which!

We have received bottles we ordered off of Roberto's list, and could not identify them when they came!

[Botafogo]

Thomas, have you tried the Tradizione del Nonno version of that wine? Ha-uuuuuge hunk-o-hunk o burnin' love, nearly 16% but wears it well.