Uncle Zin Appassimento Puglia 2021

This weighty red is named after an ancestor, Umberto, of winemaker Scipi Giuliani (of Papavero fame). Umberto left Italy for the US in 1890 and dedicated his life to the grape he loved – Zinfandel (known as Primitivo in Italy). No wonder, then, he gained the nickname Uncle Zin. Scipi’s aim was to produce the “ultimate Italian blockbuster” and he has certainly delivered. Grapes from Puglia’s Salento were handpicked, then dried on special trays for weeks, appassimento style. This method intensifies flavours, and only after that are berries pressed and the juice fermented. It makes for a velvety, super-concentrated wine, much like the expensive Amarones of Italy’s Veneto. This powerful red is great with roast meats, game or hard tangy cheeses.