Luccarelli Il Bacca Old Vines Primitivo di Manduria

The king of Puglia, or Luccarelli's flagship wine, is this Il Bacca Old Vines Primitivo. It's hands-down the best wine from this magnificent winery nestled in the heel of the boot. Luccarelli has a long history. For years, these Italians have been crafting Puglia's finest wines. They are highly praised in the region because, thanks in part to Luccarelli, Puglia's wines are rock solid. The family also wanted to show that there's more to this region than just its smooth wines. With this top-notch Luccarelli Il Bacca Old Vines, their flagship wine was born, and this wine, too, is made according to the Luccarelli philosophy. Namely, mastering the three most important elements of Puglia's wine tradition: sun, sea, and, above all, passion. Because those are the three most important elements that make fantastic wines. Well, they certainly succeeded.

The best wine from Luccarelli, this Il Bacca Old Vines Primitivo

For this wine, only Primitivo is used, sourced from the oldest vineyard near the village of Manduria. The vineyard, which is 70 years old, is no longer producing many grapes, but it is invaluable. The vines are also planted as so-called bush vines. This means the plants are free-growing and not in a row, as is often the case . This allows the bunches to grow freely and develop more easily, thanks in part to the rich soil structure. The climate in the old vineyard is perfect; abundant sunshine and cool nights contribute to an even harvest. Harvesting is, however, a costly affair because it is done entirely by hand and is very time-consuming. However, this ensures that only the best bunches are selected for pressing, and the juice is exceptionally pure.

Wood aging for the Il Bacca Old Vines Primitivo di Manduria

After harvest, this top-quality wine is aged for a full 12 months in both French and American oak barrels. Some of the barrels are new, adding to the richness of this red wine. According to Luccarelli's winemaker, the oak aging isn't enough, so he gives Il Bacca another 12 months of aging in the Luccarelli cellar. This allows this red Primitivo di Manduria to unwind and fully develop. It's certainly a treat. A very complex and deep wine with long oak aging! A true blockbuster from Puglia, this Old Vines Primitivo di Manduria has notes of plums, cherry jam, herbs, and tobacco on the nose. The palate is full and powerful with beautiful tannins and hints of chocolate, coffee, herbs, black fruit, and vanilla.