Do you buy high alcohol red wines? I do, sometimes. While I prefer balance in my wines, I admit that I tasted some impressive high octane reds in the past, and from time to time I still like to try some. Especially in winter time, when it’s still cold and dark enough here in Central Europe, despite climate change.
So I ordered a few heavy reds in December, tasted each alone, then compared them, and here’s what I found. This Puglia Primitivo could better handle the alcohol than most.
This comes in at 15.5%, and it also has residual sugar, so imagine the ripeness. Yet it’s quite lively actually, far from being flabby. Slightly aromatic, with licorice aromas and a full body, quite typical for Primitivo. Interestingly, it has a Venetian accent, in the form of sour berry, leather, balsamic notes and good acidity on the palate. The sweetness is a bit overt, this is almost semi-sweet, and the alcohol is clearly noticeable on the finish, but it’s not overwhelming. Be prepared for dessert wine when buying this.
Rating: good – very good. 87 points.
Price: 14.9 Euros.
Stockist: Hispavinus.
Value: acceptable.
Tasted: December, 2019.
Source: I bought the bottle.
Drinking window: now – 2022.