Squealing Pig - Primitivo - Puglia. I.G.T.

• Vintage: 2017
• Origin: Puglia, I.G.T. - Italy
• Taste guide: Full/medium bodied, dense blackberry and black cherry fruit flavours, vanilla and coffee notes, oaked
• 75cl - 13.5% - screwcap
• Vegetarian & Vegan friendly

Squealing Pig is a range of wines that originated in New Zealand and has spread first to Australia and then to Europe. All the range is produced under the supervision of top New Zealand winemaker Spring Timlin, who for many years was the chief winemaker at Matua.

For me the brand name, the marketing, the advertising and bottle labels are rather naff, but conversely the wines are superb.

The grape Primitivo is synonymous with Southern Italy, primarily Sicily but makes equally good wines as here in the "heel" of Italy, Puglia. When taken to the USA, the name was changed to Zinfandel, and this wine is a match for any mid-priced Californian Red Zinfandel.

Grapes from some of the best vineyards in the provinces of Brindisi and Tarantower were hand harvested during the cool of the early morning to avoid the heat of the Southern Italian sunshine. Bunches were destemmed and gently pressed to avoid skin damage. The juice was fermented at controlled temperatures, then transferred to American oak barrels for a further 5 months.

The wine is deep inky red in colour and has aromas of berry fruits, prunes cherry and blackcurrant. The palate is a complete delight with rich black cherry and plum flavours a liquorice edge, balanced by a soft tannin structure. The oak ageing adds vanilla and coffee notes. This grape may be unfamiliar to you, but if you like Californian Red Zinfandel, you will love this. Indeed, will appeal to all lovers of Cabernet and Shiraz as well.

The winery advises a potential cellaring of up to 3 years, but we tried it and it is still drinking superbly well. One of the best reds we have tried in ages.

The ideal wine for all Italian tomato-based dishes and will match any red meat dish from burgers to venison.

This wine is very similar to the Primitivo we listed in 2020 from the defunct "Jamie's Italian" chain.

Sells elsewhere at prices of £9 and over - BinEndWines' price is merely £7.35