San Marzano, 'Anniversario 62', Primitivo, Salento, Puglia, Italy

In 1962, 19 vine growers from San Marzano whose families had farmed the land for generations, combined their efforts to establish 'Cantine San Marzano'. The fusion of time-honoured tradition, passion and contemporary techniques, enables this winery to produce wines with distinctive varietal and regional characteristics while reflecting the local terroir. In the 2017 Sommelier Wine Awards, San Marzano was awarded European Producer of the Year. The grapes come from the central area of D.O.P. "Primitivo di Manduria", where they are grown in very old vineyards in San Marzano and Sava. The grapes were hand-harvested once they had reached an advanced state of ripening and went through malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats before being racked into French and American oak barrels, where it matured for 18 months. Deep and complex flavours of prunes, black cherry jam, spice and tobacco weave through the full-bodied palate with its velvety texture and long, complex finish of cocoa, coffee and vanilla bean. Quite delicious.