Fatalone Primitivo Riserva

Fatalone Primitvo Riserva is up there with some of our favourite wines. It’s a big wine but so well balanced and an absolute favourite of customers and staff alike. 

Gioia del Colle, Puglia, Italy.

Organic, wild yeast, natural fermentation, low sulphur, vegan/veggie.

2017

15.5%

75cl

MORE INFORMATION

Producer

Puglia is a region that thrives on agricultural: vineyards, almond and olive groves, cherry and plum orchards are just some of the notable sectors to name a few! The hilly terrain makes it perfect for viticulture. At the end of the 18th century Nicola Petrera, an ancestor of the current owner, chose the Spinomarino hill, the most aired and sunny one in the Gaudella area, to grow Primitivo grapes. Filippo Petrera has preserved both tradition and passion for this Primitivo until this very day. The family ensures the greatest care in every detail: organic farming, grape selection, processing and bottling. The family processes only their own estate grown grapes under the brand name “Fatalone”, with a total production of 40,000 bottles per 6 hectares of vineyards.

Viticulture

Grapes are grown on Murgian rocky hill within the territory of Gioia del Colle, in the locality of Spinomarino, 4,5 km to the South East of the town. Karstic rocky soil, omogeneous mix of clay and limestone. The vineyards are at an altitude of 365m above sea level first planted in 1990. They’re organical farming with no irrigation. 

Winemaking

The vinification process takes place in open-cycle wine tanks, without the aid of yeasts, with frequent pumping of the must over the pomace. The must is kept in contact with grape skins for three to five days at 28°C; a gentle pressing and a slow fermentation then completes the process. The wine undergoes natural malolactic fermentation and has minimal sulphur added just before bottling. 

Whilst they stick to traditional, low intervention methods, there are a few more usual techniques used during their process. They play the grapes music as the tranquillity and harmony by diffusion of new-age sounds in the cellar supports “the activity of the living enzymes inside our natural wines sensitive to music therapy” runs the philosophy of the winery. In other words, from healthy and happy vine roots to healthy and happy vine fruits and enzymes with a spring in their step, a wiggle on their hips and a “New Age” song on their lips. The wine has 12 months in wine stainless steel tanks, 12 months in Slavonic oak 750-liter-casks and a further 6 months in the bottle before release.

Taste

Exotically rich and super-ripe oozing scents of fruits-in-alcohol and spicy-toasted wood. This monster has smoothed out over time: it is warm and velvety with dried fruits baked under a marzipan crust. Just a great great wine.


Food Pairing

Great with strong flavoured dishes like big, rich pastas, roasted beef, game, grilled meat as well as fish and aged cheese. The Riserva is also particularly pleasant with dark chocolate sweets.