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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $58.95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $65.21
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $39.00
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $39.00
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $35.70
The signature briary, black-peppery characteristics of the variety feature in this medium- to full-bodied wine in the...
WE
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $63.95
Rinaldi's 2017 Dolcetto d'Alba brings together the richness of the vintage with a super-classic feel. Sweet dark...
VM
90
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $63.87
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $50.95
The 2022 Dolcetto d'Alba is soft, juicy and easy to like. Succulent red cherry, plum, rose petal and licorice are all...
VM
89
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $60.28
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750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $54.74
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $51.46
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $72.01
91-93 The 2011 Geyserville impresses for its silkiness and texture. Sweet dark berries, flowers and mint are some of...
WA
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $59.95
The 2018 Geyserville is a blend of 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. It's...
WA
96
JD
95
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $108.30
Deeply structured and briary, with a mix of red and black fruit accented by licorice, dill and savory underbrush...
WS
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $47.01
Deeply structured and briary, with a mix of red and black fruit accented by licorice, dill and savory underbrush...
WS
92
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $122.04
The 2021 Geyserville hits the palate with a burst of dark red/purplish fruit, sweet spice, lavender, chocolate, dried...
VM
94
WS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $58.43
The 2021 Geyserville hits the palate with a burst of dark red/purplish fruit, sweet spice, lavender, chocolate, dried...
VM
94
WS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $44.45
This focused, firm and tannic wine exudes black pepper and wood-smoke aromas followed by rather tight espresso,...
WE
93
WS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $48.47
A broad-shouldered red, with a potent structure but expressive blackberry, savory dill and white pepper flavors that...
WS
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $57.21
The 2021 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is a wine of tremendous stature. Vertical and composed in bearing, the 2021 has a ton...
VM
95

Dolcetto Primitivo Zinfandel Pre-Arrival Wine

In Italian, Dolcetto means 'little sweet one' – a slightly misleading name, as the black grapes of this varietal have relatively little natural sugar and almost almost produce dry wines. However, the Dolcetto grapes are remarkably popular with those looking for a full, rounded and highly flavorful wine, and are grown extensively in their native Italy, and in many other countries around the world. Dolcetto varietal grapes tend to have quite a high level of tannin, due to their thick, black skins, and low acidity, resulting in interesting wines with a large feel in the mouth, despite being relatively light in body. They are most commonly associated with big, complex flavors such as liquorice and prunes, and are regularly described as having a finish similar to the flavor of bitter almonds.

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.

The precise origins of what became known as the Zinfandel grape variety are uncertain, although it has clear genetic equivalents in both Puglia and Croatia. However, when it was brought to the New World in the mid 19th century, it became known as the Zinfandel, and has been consistently popular and widely grown ever since. These very dark and very round grapes have a remarkably high sugar content, resulting in relatively high levels of alcohol in the wines they are made into, with bottles often displaying as much as fifteen percent. What makes the Zinfandel such an interesting grape, though, is the fact that the flavors produced by this varietal vary considerably depending on the climate they are grown in. In cooler valley regions, the Zinfandel grapes result in wines which hold strong flavors of tart and sweet fruits; raspberry, redcurrant and sweet cherry, held in a very smooth and silky liquid. Conversely, warmer regions result in more complex and spicy notes, including anise, pepper and hedgerow berries.