A MANO Negroamaro 2008 Mark Shannon and Elvezia Sbalchiero, the duo behind A Mano, have worked in the wine business for most of their lives. Elvezia is a northern Italian wine-marketing expert and Mark is a Californian winemaker. They fell in love with Puglia and, when they decided to start their own label, made it their home. By producing wines of quality, Mark and Elvezia have succeeded in making Primitivo one of Italy.s most talked about grape varieties. They pay high prices for the best grapes from 70-100 year old vines and focus solely on quality and a modern style. After over a decade of vintages, they are now getting access to some of Salento.s best grapes. The Negroamaro grapes for this wine are grown in an 11 hectare vineyard, in the heart of Salice Salentino. The vines are 16 years old and have reached just the right balance of production. On arrival at the cellars, the grapes were pressed, destemmed and cooled to 18°C and the must was allowed to ferment at its own pace. After racking in mid-November, the wine remained in an underground cement tank where the temperature did not exceed 10°C until bottling under stelvin closure in May 2008. Deep coloured with a concentrated chocolate and dark plum perfume and a touch of liquorice that gives way to a full-bodied and powerful palate. Dark red fruit dominates the palate with the characteristic tannin of Negroamaro which melts into a long, chocolately finish. Vintage 2008 Grape varieties 100% Negroamaro di Puglia Region Gioia del Colle Winemaker Mark Shannon Closure Stelvin Alcohol (ABV) 13.5% Acidity 6.3g/l Residual Sugar 6.9g/l Wine pH 3.38 Find this wine at www.winestore.co.uk Price: £51.31 (Including VAT at 20%)