2018 Gianfranco Fino Es Jeroboam (3 liter)

Bottled in an impressive 3-liter Jeroboam, the 2018 Gianfranco Fino Es is one of the benchmark wines of Primitivo di Manduria and a true statement piece for the table or cellar. This is a dense, opulent southern Italian red that marries sheer power with surprising finesse, crafted from old-vine Primitivo grown on Puglia’s sun-drenched red sands and limestone. Since its debut, Es has become a modern cult classic, regularly earning top scores and helping to redefine what Primitivo can achieve in terms of complexity and aging potential.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Es shows a deep, almost opaque ruby core with a dark garnet rim, hinting at its concentration and intensity. The nose is expansive and layered, bursting with ripe blackberries, macerated cherries and plum compote, alongside notes of sweet spices, cocoa, licorice, dried figs and a subtle balsamic lift. As it opens, you’ll find hints of tobacco leaf, sandalwood and a touch of Mediterranean scrub that speak clearly of its southern origins. On the palate, this is a rich, full-bodied wine with velvety tannins and a lush, almost creamy texture, balanced by a well-judged freshness that keeps it from feeling heavy. Flavors of black cherry liqueur, wild blackberry, dark chocolate and espresso are intertwined with vanilla, clove and a savory, slightly saline edge from the terroir. The finish is long, warm and persistent, with a lingering echo of sweet spice and ripe dark fruit. In Jeroboam format, the 2018 vintage has excellent aging potential: expect it to evolve gracefully over 12–20 years, gaining even more complexity, tertiary notes and polish as the structure softens and the components knit together.

Production
The fruit for Es comes from very old bush-trained (alberello) Primitivo vines in the heart of Primitivo di Manduria, rooted in a mix of red ferrous soils and underlying limestone that naturally limits yields and concentrates flavor. The hot, dry Mediterranean climate, moderated by breezes from the nearby Ionian Sea, ensures full ripeness while preserving a core of freshness. Grapes are typically hand-harvested at optimal maturity, often from low-yielding parcels where the focus is on intensity rather than volume. After careful sorting, fermentation takes place in stainless steel or temperature-controlled tanks with extended maceration to extract color, tannin and aromatics, followed by aging in small French oak barriques (often new or mostly new) for around a year. The wine is then further refined in bottle—here in large-format Jeroboam—for added integration, stability and longevity.

Food & Serving
This powerful Primitivo is best paired with equally bold, flavorful dishes: think slow-braised beef short ribs, ossobuco, grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, game stews or richly sauced pasta dishes like ragù alla Pugliese. It also works beautifully with aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino, and can complement dark chocolate-based desserts if you enjoy a fruit-forward, warming red alongside sweets. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F); given its youth and concentration, decanting is highly recommended—2 to 3 hours in a large decanter will help the wine open up and soften. From a Jeroboam, it will evolve more slowly in the glass, making it ideal for long dinners and special occasions.

Producer
Gianfranco Fino is one of Puglia’s most acclaimed and influential modern producers, known for his obsessive attention to detail and for elevating Primitivo di Manduria to international renown. Founded in the early 2000s, the estate focuses on low-yielding old vines and meticulous vineyard work, aiming to capture both the richness and the authenticity of the region’s historic bush-trained vineyards. Es quickly became the flagship wine, garnering top ratings from leading Italian and international critics and helping to reposition Puglia from a source of bulk reds to a serious fine-wine region. Today, Gianfranco Fino is regarded as a reference point for powerful, terroir-driven Primitivo, with a track record of wines that age gracefully and consistently stand out in tastings worldwide.

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