Wine of the week: a mind-blowing, fine-value red

2017 I Muri Primitivo, Vigneti del Salento, Puglia, Italy£10.49-£13AitkenWines.com; WhitmoreAndWhite.co.uk; Drinkmonger.com; IVVeritas.com; RichardGrangerWines.co.uk; HayWines.co.uk

This might be one of the finest-value red wines of the year, but it is also rather a last-minute recommendation. I have not had a chance to taste any bottles specifically for this week's article because I am writing this piece on hols, so I am drawing on my finest, early August wine memories for inspiration.

I am often asked to recommend wines for parties and weddings and I always ask my clients to do their final decision-making "blind". This epic Primitivo romped home at a highly charged taste-off and in doing so it blew all of the attendees' minds with its insanely delicious flavour and unquestionable rapport qualit-prix.

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With the merest kiss of oak and utilising a large percentage of old vines, the fruit intensity here is tremendous, but it never oversteps the mark into elevated alcohol levels or Portiness. In fact, I Muri weighs in at 13.5%, which is nimble and refreshing by comparison with most red wines from Italy's "heel".

The violet and rose-petal nose gives way to a vibrant plum and mulberry palate and it is dotted with liquorice and coffee-bean notes, which add impressive complexity. You must taste this wine. I know I will be drinking several flagons next Saturday, so perhaps we can raise a glass together.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year (MatthewJukes.com).

Matthew Jukes has been the MoneyWeek wine correspondent since 2006.

He has worked in the UK wine business for well over three decades and during this time has written 14 wine books. His four highly-acclaimed, annual wine reports – the Burgundy En Primeur Report, the Bordeaux En Primeur Report, the Piemonte Report and the 100 Best Australian Wines – are published on his website.

Matthew is a winner of the International Wine and Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year Trophy. His thoughts, recommendations and tastings notes are followed very closely by the wine world at large.