Synopsis, Our Opinion: MASTERFUL Primitivo that’s a FANTASTIC value.
Producer/Winery: Lisa Gilbee; Azienda Agricola Morella; Manduria, Italy.
Grape Variety: Primitivo (Zinfandel) blend – 85% Primitivo and 15% Negroamaro.
Geographic Appellation: Puglia, Italy.
Vintage: 2010
Price: $24.30 (with a 10% mixed case discount)
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Paired With: Sweet Italian sausage bolognese sauce on homemade fettuccine; Caesar type salad with lemon juice, olive oil and garlic dressing with Parmesan cheese garnish.
Tasting:
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Opened one-hour before drinking. Clear, inky dark ruby/purple color with a light purple rim. Huge ripe raspberry aroma over background smells reminiscent of walking through a field of Andropogon grass on a still winter morning. Smooth, full body that’s only a notch or two above medium; tart blackberry, sour cherry and a lesser amount of sweet raspberry flavor that continues through a long slightly peppery and licorice finish that was dappled with well structured tannins. WOW, wonderful intertwining of ripe fruit, tart and bitter tastes and the hefty aromas that were in high gear from swirl to aftertaste really set the senses to attentiveness before every sip. Vicky called this “FANTASTIC” after the first taste. A delight with the bolognese sauce and pasta, very special with bitter dark chocolate and out-of-this-world with sea-salt dark chocolate. Well, what’s the verdict? At only $24 it’s masterful Primitivo that’s a FANTASTIC value, but without even considering the price it’s way up on the rating scale. This is our “Tipping Point” Italian Zinfandel. All four thumbs up!!! We rarely drink a Primitivo or Zinfandel we like this much and when we do it always seems to be from Morella…you sure don’t have to read between the lines on this review!!!.
Second Tasting (10/11/2018): We would make the same comments that we made about the 2013 vintage accept the 2016 vintage had a dominating tart cherry flavor. The Andropogon grass aroma was still there and it’s still an incredible Primitivo (Zinfandel) blend. What an AWESOME wine value this is…it just doesn’t get better than this!!!
Photo from Morella.
Comments: Learn more about Morella and their wines.
See also our review of Morella Primitivo Malbek 2014, Morella La Signora Primitivo 2013, Morella Old Vines Primitivo 2013 and Morella Mezzogiorno Salento Bianco 2013.
Alcohol Content: 15%
Closure: Natural cork.
UPC Code: 8 58162 00459 2
Imported by: Piedmont Wine Imports; Durham, North Carolina.