Wines

A•Mano

Castellaneta

Winemaker: Mark Shannon

In Puglia, the boot heel of Italy, the grape variety we know as Zinfandel is called Primitivo. A•Mano (meaning hand made) is the labour of love of the incredibly energetic and enthusiastic American winemaker, Mark Shannon, and partner, Elvezia Sbachiero. Mark’s passionate professionalism has achieved a winning combination of technology, Apulian tradition (hand cultivated, low-yielding old vines, not to mention the winery wood-fired pizza oven) and terroir. Puglia’s unique alluvial soil, deep red and sienna-coloured, is ideal for the extract-packed native Primitivo vine, still head-trained as they were by ancient Phoenicians. The 2006 is, we think, Mark and Elvezia’s best release to date, balancing vibrant, chewy raspberry fruit with hints of blueberry, leather, anise and cedar with velvety tannins and a long finish. Bianco is a 50/50 blend of two classic southern Italian varieties, Fiano and Greco. This particular clone of Fiano is very aromatic and features apricot blossom and musk whilst the Greco is responsible for the wine’s body. Rosato, made from Malvasia Nera, is dry and refreshing.
What’s new: This year two new wines joined the A•Mano stable, Negroamaro and Passito.

Negroamaro is from a recently discovered single vineyard with 12-15 year old vines planted on deep clay/shaley soil. The wine is vibrant with inky blueberry fruit and notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon and spice. Passito is made from Aleatico, naturally dried for three weeks under the hot Puglian sun. An intense nose of concentrated overripe dark berry fruit and floral notes, this is begging for a chocolate based dessert.

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Wines
2007 Fiano Greco IGT x 6 screwcap
2007 Rosato IGT x 6 screwcap
2006 Primitivo IGT screwcap
2007 Negroamaro IGT x 6 screwcap
2007 Aleatico Passito IGT 500 x 6