Pasqua ‘Desire Lush & Zin’ Primitivo 2017
Grape Varietal: 100% Primitivo
Growing Region: Verona - Italy
Chief Winemaker: Giovanni Nordera
4-Stars ★★★★
I had the pleasure of enjoying several days in Puglia in the southern part of Italy just a couple of years ago. What a vibrant part of the country with its easy access to a vast selection of fresh seafood. Its incredible cuisine with a focus on local vegetables and its internationally renowned olive oils, with some 63 million trees in the region. Along with the summer heat of the region, the subtle use of meat in cooking and their healthy appetite for vegetables and cooking with herbs, spices and fragrant olive oil.
What better wine pairing than with a smooth medium-bodied style red wine, that definitely over delivers on approachable flavours for the taste-buds. The ripe Primitivo grapes (yes - also known as Zinfandel, which is abbreviated to Zin) were hand-picked and then quickly taken to the winery where they were destemmed and gently pressed.
The grape juice remained on skins for approximately 5-7 days at low temperatures in order to undergo a pre-fermentation maceration. The alcoholic fermentation was then lifted to between 23-26°C for around 15-20 days - depending upon the fruit parcels and with regular pumping-over of the skins. The wine was then racked into another stainless-steel tank where it underwent malolactic fermentation. Once the winemaking team were happy with its balance, the wine was then transferred into oak barrels for 6 months of palate development before being tasted and then bottled.
The ripe fruit and pre-fermentation has resulted in a beautifully deep red colour and vibrant hue. The Pasqua ‘Desire Lush & Zin’ Primitivo from Puglia is a deliciously approachable red wine with inviting aromas of dark plums, black cherries, wild berries, vanilla, coffee and subtle dried herb notes. The wine is smooth and rounded on the palate, medium bodied with engaging ripe fruit flavours and soft tannins and subtle oak. The wine has a vibrant depth of flavour, personality and a pleasing dry finish.
This 2017 Pasqua ‘Desire Lush & Zin’ Primitivo has 13.5% Alc./vol. No decanting required and serve in a generous red wine glass at 16-17°C.
An engaging Primitivo wine with a vibrant personality and smooth finish.
CELLARING POTENTIAL:
Drinking perfectly well this coming season; plus will hold well for another 2-3 years.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine pairing with simple BBQ meats, herb sausages, kebabs, thin-based pizza’s, mushroom pasta, earthy vegetables - along with hard cheeses - enjoy.
