A mind-blowing, fine-value red

2017 I Muri Primitivo This might be one of the finest-value red wines of the year, says Matthew Jukes.

Matthew Jukes
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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
Matthew Jukes

Matthew Jukes has worked in the UK wine business for well over three decades and during this time has written 14 wine books.  

Matthew regularly lectures, judges, speaks at wine conferences and runs masterclass tastings for both corporate and private clients all over the world. Matthew is also the creator of his ground-breaking initiative, the One Day Wine School, an indulgent day of tasting and learning first performed in 2006.

He has been the MoneyWeek wine correspondent since 2006 and has written a weekly column for the Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine since 1999. 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, www.matthewjukes.com.

Matthew is one of the world’s leading experts on Australian wine and, with Brisbane-based wine writer Tyson Stelzer, runs an annual competition in Australia to find ‘The Great Australian Red’.  He was made Honorary Australian of the Year in the UK at the 2012 Australia Day Foundation Gala dinner. 

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.

 

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