Mark Shannon and his partner Elvezia Sbalchiero have revolutionised the style and calibre of Primitivo, turning it into one of Puglia’s most talked about grape varieties. They achieved this at A Mano, in Salento, by paying fair, high prices for the best possible grapes (sourced from 70 to 100-year-old vines) and focusing exclusively on quality, while crafting a modern style. As the old saying goes, where you lead others will follow.
The continued success of A Mano is at least partly attributable to the knowledge that Mark and Elvezia have gleaned from over 18 vintages in Puglia. Not only do they have access to Salento’s best grapes, but their growers have also realised that if they want the higher price paid by A Mano, they need to provide quality to match.
Vineyards
Negroamaro grapes for this wine are grown in a single vineyard covering 11 hectares, in the heart of Salice Salentino. The old vineyard is planted on sandy soils and is dry farmed. The vines are trained on trellises to prevent the sensitive grapes suffering from sunburn, and are between 30 and 60 years old.
Vinification
Upon arrival at the cellars, the grapes were pressed, destemmed and cooled to 18°C, and the must was allowed to ferment at its own pace. After racking in mid-November, the wine remained in an underground cement tank where the temperature did not exceed 10°C until bottling.
Tasting Notes
This wine is deep ruby red in colour. The nose opens with crushed black berries, cherries and spices followed by a light floral note. Full and rich, this wine is also sleek and elegant, with lingering spiciness on the palate.
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