This 100% Primitivo hails from Lugosano, in the Salento region of southeastern Italy - literally the "heel" of the boot. Continuing a recent trend in my notes, at $9.99 this is yet another overperforming value, this time giving Italy its due.
The wine is a medium-garnet color with a crimson edge. The bouquet offers bright aromas of spicy cherry, strawberry, and boysenberry fruit, accented by molasses, pepper and toasty oak. The wine has a smooth attack and a medium-body, which seems fuller due to the intensity of the fruit. Making a strong case for the shared genetic heratige of Primitivo and Zinfandel, this wine is brimming with briary berry fruits and peppery spice, with cherry, orange zest, and licorice flavors against a background of carmelized oak. The finish is a bit abbreviated (which, with the sweet fruit flavors can lead to quaffing), but a fine performance nonetheless.
This wine is another example of the kind of quality you can find in a casual $10 sipper if you know where to look. The Primitivo and Nero D'Avola wines coming from some of these younger producers in southern Italy are forging ahaead on the quality front in leaps and bounds. While these wines are not as steeped in tradition and a sense of place as the much pricier wines of northern Italy, you will not be enjoying a $10 Brunello or Barolo any time soon. This is a wonderful partner for Italian-style meatloaf with a beef ragu.
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