A Mano Prima Mano Negroamaro 2020
A Mano Prima Mano Negroamaro
Region: Puglia, Italy
Vintage: 2023
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Negroamaro
ABV: 13.5%
Notes: Vegetarian, vegan, practising organic
Deep ruby in the glass. This wine is beautifully complex, with richness and depth. On the nose it shows aromas of rose petals, violets, black cherries and damask plums. The tannins are velvety and well-integrated, the vibrant acidity keeps the flavours fresh and intriguing through the long finish.
The vineyards are located in Lizzano, overlooking the Ionian Sea, with vines averaging 70 years of age. The sandy soils are dry-farmed, and the vines are trained on trellises to protect the sensitive grapes from sunburn.
The grapes dried on the vine for three weeks before harvest. Vinification employed a unique dual-temperature approach: fermentation began before all juice was drawn off and chilled, while the remaining skins underwent warm maceration to extract colour, tannins, and aromatic compounds. At the optimal moment, the super-chilled must returned to the skins for cold fermentation, combining the extraction benefits of hot fermentation with the fruit preservation of cold fermentation. The wine received no wood ageing before bottling.
Mark Shannon and his partner Elvezia Sbalchiero have succeeded in making Primitivo one of Italy’s most talked about grape varieties. By paying high prices for the best grapes (sourced from 70 to 100-year-old vines) and focussing solely on quality and a modern style, they have revolutionised the style and calibre of Primitivo. The continued success of A Mano is at least partly attributable to the knowledge that Mark and Elvezia have gleaned from over 18 vintages in the region. Not only are they getting access to Salento’s best grapes, but their growers have also come to realise that if they want the higher price paid by A Mano, they need to provide even better grapes than in previous years.