Primitivo di Manduria Riserva Vecchie Vigne 'Co' De Quarto 2018

The 'Co' Riserva Vecchie Vigne Primitivo di Manduria is the flagship wine of the Apulian De Quarto winery, the bottle that represents the quintessence of producer Antonio De Quarto's style. The vinification of the grapes grown on the estate takes place as spontaneously as possible in the ancient Lizzano winery, located in a restored old palmento belonging to the family. The name of this Primitivo di Manduria Riserva pays homage to grandfather Cosimo De Quarto, known as Co', the man who handed down the technique and experience regarding the cultivation and vinification of the area's grapes.

De Quarto Primitivo di Manduria Riserva 'Co' Vecchie Vigne is made exclusively from Primitivo grapes grown in an old bush-trained pugliese vineyard in the commune of Lizzano. Here, the vines benefit from the typically sunny Mediterranean climate and the red, calcareous soils. Harvesting is carried out by hand at the end of September, when the grapes have reached full ripeness, and the clusters are then mellowed in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for the slow spontaneous alcoholic fermentation in contact with the skins that lasts a full 60 days. After a few months of maturation, also in stainless steel, the wine is bottled and further rests in the bottle before being released on the market.

In the glass, the Primitivo di Manduria Riserva Vecchie Vigne 'Co' from the De Quarto estate is dressed in an intense garnet red mantle with an orange outline. The nose exhibits heady hints of blackberry, plum and dried figs, associated with balsamic suggestions and sweet sensations of chocolate and cinnamon. The imposing warmth and textural roundness on the palate are underpinned by a robust structure and a smooth tannic texture that anticipates the broad and very persistent finish.