Hot on the heels of the scorching 2015 vintage, Zenas Primitivo from Puglia 2016 is wowing European critics all over again, and now it’s finally arrived Stateside so you taste it for yourself. None other than Luca Maroni, who writes the annual “Best Wines of Italy” guide has awarded this wine his top pick from the Adriatic coast. 98 points! Bold but refined on the palate, this delightful ruby-colored red has a heady plummy perfume, a profusion of cherry and spice, and a whisper of herbaceous rosemary softened by vanilla. Drink alone or with tomato-y meat sauces, this is a wine made for food. Those in the know will be snatching up this little known gem by the caseload…

About the wine: Aged for six months in French oak barrels, this wine soft and supremely well balanced. A fruit melange of flavors of dried figs, cranberry, and blackberry delights. The gentle tannins make 2016 Primitivo Puglia lgt “ZENAS” the perfect partner for tomato-based dishes like a hearty meat sauce or lasagna, aubergine parmigiana, chicken cacciatore, and provides the perfect balance to a spicy sausage pizza. This wine loves blue cheeses (Gorgonzola and figs, perhaps), and dry, firm cheeses like Pecorina and Parmigiano Reggiano.