'Madrigale', Primitivo Di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG, Prod. du Manduria, Puglia, Italy

Produttori di Manduria is a historic cooperative founded in 1932 by growers dedicated to Primitivo, the great grape of Puglia's Salento peninsula — they call themselves the "Maestri del Primitivo." Madrigale is their naturally sweet Primitivo, made from grapes grown on bush-trained (alberello) vines averaging 30–80 years old. The grapes are left on the vine into mid-September for extra ripeness and natural sugar concentration, then vinified and aged in steel before further ageing in bottle. The 2023 vintage was awarded Tre Bicchieri by Gambero Rosso — a first for this style of wine.

Tasting Notes Deep ruby red with purple highlights. A rich, complex nose of dried figs and dates, jammy plum and blueberry, violets and warm spice. The palate is sweet but never cloying — dense, soft-tannined and persistent, with notes of dark chocolate and dried fruit on the finish