Zolla Primitivo di Manduria 2017

Puglia is Italy’s sunny ‘heel,’ where Primitivo (Italian cousin to Zinfandel) makes some very intense reds. These full-flavored wines are huge customer favorites, which is why we’re very excited about this latest release – looking sharp in its traditionally stout bottle.

When Filippo Baccalaro set out to make Zolla, he knew he needed grapes that were just right. They had to have mouthfilling, heady ripeness, but also a refreshing edge to give the wine perfect balance and keep you coming back for more. So, he headed to the ancient seaside village of Manduria, where the equally ancient vines are blessed with brilliant sunshine and Mediterranean breezes – yielding Primitivo that more than fits the bill. No wonder Zolla has scooped top awards across the globe – like 96 points in a leading Italian wine guide.

After hand-selecting the best parcels, he hurried the fruit back to his winery. Eight months in small oak barrels gives the wine a hint of inviting spice. You’re in for layers of rich, dark berry flavor, plus hints of leather and toasty nutmeg, clove, and black pepper.

A red this rich, intense, and gratifying isn’t likely to stick around long ... you know what you need to do.