San Marzano Talò Primitivo di Manduria 2022 (Puglia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Primitivo from Manduria in Puglia that returned to the LCBO last weekend as part of the January 18 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Cantine San Marzano, a co-operative winery that was established in 1962 by winegrowers chasing a dream. Named after the small town where it resides, San Marzano is located at the centre of the Primitivo di Manduria DOP on a strip of land between the seas that wash over the Puglia region.

In 1982, Francesco Cavallo was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors. Francesco is a volcanic and visionary personality, as well as helmsman of their reality. In 1996, with the commitment and dedication of its members, San Marzano purchased a modern bottling plant, which allowed them to move from a bulk commodity to a wine producer and establish a brand with a direct relationship to the end consumer. In 2000, San Marzano produced their first vintage of Sessantanni Primitivo di Manduria DOP. Produced from old vines, this wine is an expression of a thousand-year-old relationship between the people of Marzano and the Primitivo grape. The iconic label encapsulates the company's philosophy and essence to produce distinctive and high-quality wines by combining traditional winemaking methods with innovative techniques. With Francesco at the helm while overseeing the winery's present and planning the future, San Marzano has grown to become one of Puglia's most recognized producers and is highly regarded internationally.

San Marzano has several lines of wines, while this red wine is from their "Talò" range, which was created so that the producer could thank the farmers and their families who look after each vineyard as if it were their own garden. Talò is a surname, and the range is made up of a collection of varieties and is a symbol of community.

This particular red wine is crafted with 100% Primitivo that was grown in its spiritual home - the appellation of Primitivo di Manduria DOP in southern Puglia. More specifically, the grapes were grown in the town and commune of San Marzano, within the Province of Taranto, in the region of Salento. The vineyard is situated close to the sea, at about 100 metres above sea level and experiences high average temperatures and medium-low rainfall. The vines were trained using the Espalier training system, and grown on clayey and thin soil that is full of rocks. After harvesting the grapes in mid-September, they underwent a thermo-controlled maceration and alcoholic fermentation for about 10 days with selected yeasts, followed by ageing for 6 months in French and American oak barrels.

In 2022, the growing season in Puglia was generally warmer and dry, with the grapes in the region that are used to the heat basking in the sun in June and July. Some heavy rain events in August helped revive some of the vines, leading to average yields and good quality fruit. Let's see how this 2022 Primitivo di Manduria from Puglia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SAN MARZANO TALÒ PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2022 - DOP, Puglia, Italy (#455220) (D) - $19.95
The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is richly spiced with lush and ripe black fruit, blackberry, clove, sweet spices, black plum, and black cherry aromas, plus whiffs of milk chocolate. It's fairly dry on the mid-weighted palate with delicious and impressively complex milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, savoury oak spice, black-red berry fruit, clove, and plum flavours. Acids are crisp and well-balanced, while the mildly grippy tannins are smooth and refined. There's a touch of sweetness on the mid-palate, which tapers to cocoa, chocolate, and savoury earth notes flecked with ripe black fruit on the long, savoury, stony mineral finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

One other Primitivo by San Marzano is available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.