Some decisions get easier once you’ve found those who do it best. Apple is one of the top companies making smartphones, Canon makes incredible cameras, and Cantine San Marzano makes really good Primitivo. That’s why this week’s wine is San Marzano’s 2018 Talò Primitivo di Manduria. The winery is located in southern Italy’s Puglia region and is a go-to for examples of Puglia’s finest grape varieties. This focus on the wines that make Puglia so special has been the winery’s goal since its founding in the 1960s, and its efforts have carried these wines across the world and to an LCBO near you!
Tasting Notes: Generous flavours of plum, juicy black cherry, vanilla, chocolate and spice. Soft tannins linger with the ripe fruit flavours through a lengthy finish.
Enjoy With: Almost anything off the grill: burgers, ribs, chicken wings in sticky-sweet sauces, and grilled veggies (especially red pepper), or classics like lamb stew and pasta with Italian sausages.
Style: A full-bodied, rich, smooth red wine.
Terroir / Region: If Italy is a boot, Puglia is the heel and coastal region moving north. Puglia produces over half of Italy’s olive oil alongside many of its best wine values. Some of the most popular Apulian wines are made from the Primitivo grape (aka Zinfandel), which is perfectly matched against the hot Mediterranean sun and cool sea breezes, leading to rich and balanced wines.
Producer: In 1962, 19 grape growers from San Marzano, whose families had farmed the land for generations, combined their efforts to establish Cantine San Marzano. The cooperative has grown through the decades and now uses modern techniques to produce elegant wines, but without forgetting its obligation to old Apulian wine traditions.
Availability: Talò Primitivo will be available on May 15 for online ordering and in the Vintages section of your local LCBO store.
Check LCBO store inventory
Price: $16.95
LCBO#: 455220
Size: 750mL
Alcohol Content:14.0% alc./vol.
