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750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$16.94
Vivid ruby red color verging on violet. Sparkling fine bubbles forming a lively and evanescent foam that lines the...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$18.13
Vivid ruby red color verging on violet. Sparkling fine bubbles forming a lively and evanescent foam that lines the...
750ml
Bottle:
$18.32
$19.28
12 bottles:
$14.00
Big, inky-black fruit, spice and white pepper; layered and rich in the mouth with jammy black cherries, truffles,...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.24
12 bottles:
$15.92
Deep ruby red with violet reflections. Intense fruity bouquet with notes of plum and cherry, hints of Mediterranean...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.88
12 bottles:
$14.30
Enticing aromas of Bosc pear, chamomile, singed orange rind and lemon oil waft from the glass. It's vibrant and crisp...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.93
$15.88
12 bottles:
$14.30
Pale garnet in hue, with a dry, mouthwatering frame for the violet and spice accents, and flavors of macerated...
750ml
Bottle:
$12.99
The NV Rosso Labrusca lifts up with a decadent blend of ripe cherries, blueberries, sweet herbs and spice. This takes...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.57
$18.49
12 bottles:
$17.52
Extremely fresh on the nose, with notes of wild berries and red fruits. On the palate, this full-bodied Lambrusco...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.94
6 bottles:
$16.60
A balanced, medium-bodied red, with light tannins and a subtle underpinning of fresh, loamy earth layered with...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.34
$15.59
12 bottles:
$14.05
Dense ruby red with a purplish rim, it is immediately intense on the nose with marked aromas of ripe and fleshy red...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.73
12 bottles:
$13.99
Dark, brooding and spicy, the 2019 Primitivo di Manduria lifts up with notes of crushed rocks, cardamom and black...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.90
$18.00
Raspberry coulis and fresh soil with grass popping through on the nose turns to an almost cake-like raspberry and...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.93
$15.84
Appearance: Deep red-to-purple, with fine perlage.
Nose: Intense notes of ripe fruits, cherries and sour cherries....
750ml
Bottle:
$13.93
$15.00
12 bottles:
$13.65
100% Primitivo. Perrini's Primitivo comes from estate vines averaging 30 to 35 years old, with some getting up to 60...
750ml
Bottle:
$19.94
12 bottles:
$19.54
The rediscovery of this ancient variety rewarded us with this elegant wine that shows intense notes of pear, white...
Lambrusco Pecorino Mencia Primitivo
Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.
Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.
As with many European grape varietals, there is some debate regarding the precise origins of the Primitivo grape. Most people now agree that it probably came from Croatia, where it is still used widely in the production of red wine, and it known as Tribidrag. However, today it is a grape most commonly associated with the powerful red wines of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the intense sunshine and brisk Mediterranean breezes produce grapes of remarkable character and balance. Primitivo is a dark grape, known for producing intense, inky, highly tannic wines, most notably the naturally sweet Dolce Naturale and the heavy and complex Primitivo di Manduria wines. Primitivo tends to be naturally very high in both tannin and alcohol, making it ideal for both barrel and cellar ageing, which brings out its more rounded and interesting features.
Primitivo is not the easiest grape to grow or manage, and it has had something of a difficult century. Indeed, by the 1990s, there was little interest in Puglian wines in general, and winemakers were neglecting their Primitivo vineyards and looking to other, more commercially viable varietals. However, the last decade has seen this grape come well and truly back into fashion, with new techniques and a heightened interest in native Italian grape varietals bringing Primitivo back into the spotlight. It is now widely loved for its intensity and ability to be paired with strongly flavored foods.