Cristiano Guttarolo Miro Primitivo 2019

Miro is Cristiano Guttarolo's entry-level Primitivo, sourced from the youngest vines on his estate outside Gioia del Colle in Puglia. First produced in 2015, it is 100% Primitivo grown on the Murge Plateau at roughly 400 meters above sea level on thin, red-ferrous topsoils over karstic limestone. The elevation and constant Adriatic breezes keep this part of Puglia significantly cooler than the coastal plains, which shows clearly in the glass.

The grapes are hand-harvested and spend just 4 days on skins before fermentation and aging take place entirely in stainless steel. Fermentation is spontaneous using indigenous yeasts, and the wine is bottled without fining, filtration, or added sulfur. This light-handed approach preserves the natural energy of young-vine Primitivo rather than extracting weight and concentration.

What results is a Primitivo that reads more like a Beaujolais than anything from Manduria: tart red and dark fruit, a snappy mineral edge from the limestone, and a faint saline quality on the finish. Licorice and herbal notes emerge in the back. It is a wine built for the table, not the cellar.