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Alberto Longo 2020 Primitivo
£14.99
In stock
SKU
ITPURALPR20B
- Buy 6 for £14.24 each and save 5%
- Buy 12 for £13.79 each and save 8%
Alberto Longo is our new favourite producer from Puglia. His winery is based in Lucera in Northern Puglia, but his Primitivo is grown in Manduria, in the south of the peninsula, the spiritual home for this variety. Although this variety is not Alberto's speciality, this is perhaps the best Primitivo we have tasted. What sets it apart from others is its freshness: not normally a characteristic associated with this grape variety. The wine is packed with dense cherry and bramble fruits, lifted by a floral touch, with a satisfyingly rich and dense palate. This is an absolute masterclass in winemaking.
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The Region
Puglia
Welcome to the sun-drenched haven of Puglia, Italy – where vineyards sprawl across rolling hills and centuries of winemaking tradition converge with innovation. Puglia's wines embody this vibrant region, capturing its essence in every sip.
Nurtured by the Mediterranean sun and kissed by gentle sea breezes, Puglia's vineyards yield various varieties, each with a captivating story. From the intense and velvety Primitivo to the crisp elegance of Fiano, Puglian wines are a testament to the terroir's influence and the hands that carefully craft them.
We champion the wines of Alberto Longo, one of the greatest producers in the region. His production is small, but his personality, which comes through in the wines, is immense. Elsewhere, we have the sensational Appassimento from Vallone - a winery that pioneered this winemaking technique in Puglia; and the great value reds and rosé from San Marzano, a forward-thinking and dynamic co-op.
New to the range this year is Caiaffa, from northern Puglia. We have his delicious, spicy Fiano Minutolo and will add more from this excellent producer over time.
Collections
Organic & Biodynamic WInes
All the wines listed in this section are organic or biodynamic to varying degrees. Here, we list the wine which are also in organic conversion (i.e. not completed the 3 year process), with each wine listing its status.
Biodynamic goes a little further than organic. It is an all encompassing philosophy which has at its heart the biodynamic composts and sprays with actions performed account to the biodynamic calendar of root, leaf, flower, and fruit days.
The Grape Variety
Primitivo
Primitivo is a black grape variety primarily grown in Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot-shaped peninsula. It is also known as Zinfandel in California and other parts of the United States, where it is widely grown and used to produce robust, fruity wines.
The name is believed to have come from the latin term primativus, due to its early ripening compared to other Puglian varieties.
Primitivo grapes typically produce wines that are full-bodied and rich in flavour, with highish alcohol content and moderate tannins. The wines are often described as having notes of dark fruit such as blackberry, black cherry, and plum, as well as spices like black pepper and cinnamon.
Primitivo is believed to have originated in Croatia, where it is known as Tribidrag (and Kratosija in North Macedonia), and was later brought to Italy. It has become one of the most important grape varieties of Puglia, where it is often blended with other local grape varieties such as Negroamaro to produce complex and flavourful wines. Primitivo is also sometimes used to produce sweet wines, such as the famous dessert wine Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale.
The Producer
Alberto Longo
Alberto Longo is our latest arrival from Puglia. We have long been admirers of Alberto's wines being stylish, polished and fully expressive of the regional authenticity that we seek out.
The winery and vineyards are located in Lucera in Northern Puglia close to the borders of Molise and Campania. Here you can a range of grape varieties different to those found further down the peninsula. The local specialities Nero di Troia, Falanghina and Montepulciano, mixed up with the more canonical Puglian varieties of Primitivo and Negroamaro.
Alberto is a third-generation winemaker with 35 hectares of vines and a modern, well-equipped winery. Alberto is highly skilled and passionate about his wines, but he has a secret weapon in his armoury, which is his oenologist Graziana Grassini, who up until recently was also the head winemaker of Sassicaia. Graziana has been working with Alberto since 2004 and you can feel her dynamism and drive for top quality in these wines.
The range is exemplary: starting with theLe Fossette, a Falanghina that shows the stoned fruit character of this variety, with an extra dimension of minerality and bright freshness. His Rosé Donnadele made from Negroamaro is a delicate colour with gorgeous pink grapefruit and spice scents.
The Reds are as diverse as they are excellent. The range starts with a pure Nero di Troia, Citerna: fragrant and soft with the warmth of the south. Next is the Cacc' e Mmitte di Lucera, Alberto's local DOC blending Nero di Troia, Montepulciano and a little of his local white variety Bombino Bianco. Following is the Primitivo made from vineyards in Manduria, and it is quite possibly the best Primitivo we have encountered. It is rich, no doubt, but has a delicious freshness and vigour that we have found in no other wine from this variety. Finally, there are Alberto's two top reds: his Syrah 4.7.7, which is quite possibly the best Syrah in Italy, certainly the only one with REAL Syrah characteristics of violets, blackberries and smoked meats; and Le Cruste, which is a single vineyard made from Nero di Troia