Matane Primitivo Di Manduria Il Matane 2017
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Ruby red color with rich violet reflections. An opulent bouquet, reminiscent of ripe cherries and plums, is integrated with pleasing nuances of chocolate and vanilla. Primitivo di Manduria “Il Matané" has remarkable structure, softened by the roundness and silkiness characteristic of Primitivo, and a long, velvet finish.
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2019-
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When Neil, Maria and Tara tasted the silky, seductive, structured reds crafted by Filippo Baccalaro for Valentino Sciotti, the Matané project (from Maria, Tara & Neil) began to take shape. It was then that a joint venture was decided between the Empsons, Valentino and Filippo. When Neil & Maria began pioneering Italy’s fine wine exports, the Italian potential had barely been recognized, much less explored. Today, something very like that pioneering spirit has inspired Matané. This exciting new project promises to explore, enhance and export the richness and excellence of Salento soil and its unique wines.
Loved for its inky, brambly, fruit-driven wines, the Primitivo grape actually has Croatian origin. Primitivo landed in Italy in the late 1800s and became an important variety in the hot, dry, southern region of Puglia. Here it was named from the Latin word, primativus, meaning "first to ripen." Somm Secret—No one knew Primitivo and Zinfandel were the same until 1994 when DNA profiling at UC Davis finally revealed the link. The grape goes by the name of Tribidrag in Croatia and is a parent to Plavac Mali.
Well-suited to the production of concentrated, fruity and spicy red varieties, Puglia is one of Italy’s warmest, most southerly regions. Its entire eastern side is one long coastline bordering the Adriatic Sea. About half way down, the region becomes the Salento Peninsula. This peninsula, bordered by water on three sides, receives moist, nighttime, sea breezes that bring a welcome cooling effect to the region, where little rain creates a challenging environment for its vines. In fact, the region is named for the Italian expression, “a pluvia,” meaning “lack of rain.”
Puglia’s Mediterranean climate and iron-rich, calcareous soils support the indigenous Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero di Troia. Primitivo produces an inky, spicy, brambly and ripe red wine whose best expression comes from Manduria. Nero di Troia produces tannic, rustic reds from Castel del Monte DOC while Negroamaro, typically blended with Malvasia nera, plays a large part in may blends made throughout the peninsula.
Puglia produces a small amount of white wines as well, predominantly made of the fruity, Trebbiano Toscano, or light, Bombino bianco grapes.