San Marzano 2020 Primitivo di Manduria Old Vines Sessantanni

Description

The Sessantanni Primitivo di Manduria red wine, signed by Cantine San Marzano , is one of the purest expressions of Salento viticulture, which can count on a thousand-year history. The name of this wine tells of the careful care with which only the oldest vineyards are selected, located between San Marzano and Sava, and cultivated with the traditional sapling method. The vineyards grow on the typical red earth of the place with a calcareous and ferrous substrate capable of giving the grapes unique characteristics. When they reach the perfect degree of ripeness, the fruits are harvested by hand. The maceration lasts an average of twenty days on indigenous yeasts, to continue with a fermentation at a controlled temperature. The Sessantanni Primitivo di Manduria is then aged for twelve months in French and American oak barrels. It is excellent to be enjoyed with structured dishes already after bottling, but it can acquire smoother scents with a few years of rest in the cellar.

Luca Maroni 94 Rating
From the sun-drenched vineyards of Puglia’s Primitivo di Manduria zone, Cantine San Marzano’s “Sessantanni” is produced from old bush vines averaging over sixty years of age. These deeply rooted vines yield small quantities of intensely concentrated fruit, creating one of southern Italy’s most widely recognized expressions of Primitivo. The warm, generous 2020 vintage delivers the wine’s signature richness while maintaining a polished, balanced profile.

100% Primitivo. Deep ruby in the glass, the wine opens with powerful aromas of ripe blackberry, plum preserves, and dark cherry layered with notes of cocoa, vanilla, sweet spice, and Mediterranean herbs. The palate is full-bodied and velvety, delivering dense black fruit, hints of licorice and mocha, and a touch of toasted oak that adds depth without overwhelming the fruit. The finish is long, smooth, and warmly spiced.