Wine: Bella Luna Primitivo 2011, Puglia
Primitivo is a good example of this and is one of a few great but lesser known grapes from southern Italy that you need to know about along with Negroamaro (Puglia), Nero d’Avola (Sicily) and Aglianico (Basilicata), to name just three more.
This week I want to focus on Primitivo which seems to be having a run of popularity these days with at least one available in most off licences, usually from Puglia in the heel of Italy. This grape is rarely expensive and almost always eminently drinkable. In the 1970s it was discovered that Primitivo is almost identical to California’s Zinfandel and we now know that both are descendants of an obscure Croatian grape variety.
Californian Zinfandel tends to be significantly sweeter than even the finest Primitivo but this is more to do with local tastes than major differences in the grapes. If you are curious to see the heights this grape can reach I recommend the wines of Seghesio or Ridge Vineyards, in particular the Ridge Lytton Springs or Paso Robles.
The Seghesio is around €30 with the Ridge costing a little more. Simple Primitivos from Puglia will cost a lot less than this (see below).
* If you are utterly broke after the Christmas splurge and looking for a bargain wine then Lidl has a different wine on special offer each week of January for under a fiver. This week there’s the Cimarosa Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon for just €4 (until Sunday 13) followed by the Cimarosa Chenin/Chardonnay for €4.29 and their basic Bordeaux at just €3.49 (Jan 21-27) which must be some kind of record.
Stockists: O’Donovan’s, Independents.
A good example of how tasty this grape can be for very little money. Red berries and ripe cherries on the nose with a hint of spice. Ripe, soft, fruity palate that cries out for pizza and pasta with rich, tomato-based pasta sauces.
Stockist: Molloy’s Liquor Stores, Dublin
Plum and damson aromas with hints of cinnamon and spice. Light, bright, fruity palate with a lingering spicy finish and a light structure make this a good match for your next takeaway curry or pepperoni pizza.
Stockist: Dunnes Stores
Zonin produce wine in a number of famous Italian regions and are one of Italy’s largest, privately owned companies. Ripe, black fruit aromas with touches of tobacco. Dark fruits continue on the palate with a chocolaty, black fruit finish — perhaps one to have in front of the telly with a bar of Valrhona chocolate.
Stockist: SuperValu
Supervalu often has this wine on special offer under €10, but it is worth trying at any price. Black cherry fruit with hints of chocolate and coffee. Warm and generously fruited on the palate, with lingering berry fruit and quite delicious.
Stockist: O’Brien’s
From the highly respected house of Tenute Rubino, in the Salento peninsula of Puglia. Stewed plums and black cherry aromas with flavours of ripe cherries, with hints of dark chocolate and a juicy, slightly edgy finish. A fine, complex, satisfying wine.
Stockists: Wine Boutique, Ringsend, Barry’s, Midleton, Stack’s, Listowel, Red Earth, Mullingar, Ardkeen Stores, Waterford.
An eco-friendly wine that uses ladybirds in the vineyards instead of insect spray. Intense fruit mixed with coffee and spice aromas with a rich, fruity palate and a lingering finish. This would be a good match for steak or a home-made posh burger.
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