Puglia, Italy
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Heracles Primitivo DOC

SKU 66282
Country Italy
Region Puglia
Type Red
Varietal Primitivo
Listing
Case Config. 12x750ml
Available In BC AB MB

Colour

Intense ruby red colour.

Aroma

A bouquet of dark fruit, spices and liquorice.

Flavour

Well balanced with good structure, nice length, and fruity flavours.

Food Pairing

Pairs well with spicy dishes, spare ribs and game.

More Info

The Tommasi passion for wine and their desire to discover and select the very best in Italian winemaking have taken the to Puglia where you'll find the Masseria Surani estate. The Tommasi family purchased 80 hectares of land in the Salento area, one of the finest regions for the cultivation of the Primitivo grape. Here, viticulture has extremely ancient origins, dating back to the time of Magna Graecia.
The property, which lies about 6 km from the Ionian coast, also includes a manor house called 'Masseria' dating back to the early 1900s. A typical complex of agricultural buildings, which originally acted as an organizational centre for all of the farming operations. The renovated Masseria now houses a winery of 700 sqm; complete with winemaking and cellaring facilities.

91 pts

Wine Enthusiast, Aug/2023

2020 -

WINE ENTHUSIAST'S TOP 100 BEST BUYS 2023. "Raspberry coulis and fresh soil with grass popping through on the nose turns to an almost cake-like raspberry and dark chocolate palate that nonetheless maintains the freshness of the nose with more soil and grass on the back, unchallenged by relaxed tannins and low acidity."

 

James Suckling, Jul/2024

2020 -

"A fresh and bright red with inviting aromas and flavors of plums, plum skin and red currants. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins."

 

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, May/2023

2020 -

"The 2020 Primitivo di Manduria is understated in the glass, wafting up with black raspberry and spice aromas. This is soft and round on the palate, with ripe dark fruits."

 

Wine Spectator, Aug/2023

2020 -

"A brambly red, with a tangy frame of orange peel acidity and an overtone of wild herbs, this medium-bodied version offers notes of ripe red currant and raspberry fruit, graphite and milled pepper. Fresh finish. Drink now." - Alison Napjus

90 pts

James Suckling, Aug/2021

2019 -

"Fresh, spicy plum-skin aromas and flavors. Medium body with intense, bright fruit and a tight finish. Drink now."

91 pts

James Suckling, Aug/2021

2018 -

"Notes of dark cherries, mulberries, roasted tomatoes and dried herbs on the nose. It's full-bodied with sleek tannins. Juicy and slightly sweet on the palate with a creamy and velvety texture until the end. Sweet and rich, but balanced. Drink now."

92 pts

James Suckling, Nov/2019

2017 -

"Dried cedar, dried red cherries and lots of dried-meat and tar character. Balanced and very tight for this variety, boasting beautiful tension and agile acidity, not to mention concentrated dark fruit. Drink from 2021."

90 pts

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Feb/2020

2017 -

"Good full ruby. Red cherry, dark plum and underbrush on the nose, complemented by sexy spices. Broad, lush and sweet, with a high-toned quality to the perfumed flavors of red berries and spices. Finishes broad and horizontal, with smooth, ripe tannins and nicely persistent spicy perfume."

 

Wine Enthusiast, Nov/2019

2017 -

"There's a pleasing mix of spiced cherry and blackberry on the nose of this wine, alongside blood orange rind and hot earth. The palate is plush in feel, with fine tannins and juicy acidity supporting a mix of lush berry fruit and warm spice."

91 pts

James Suckling, Oct/2018

2016 -

"Shows some nicely lifted raspberry-cheesecake and citrus notes, in addition to red cherry essence and baking spices. Full body, some nicely grainy tannins and a tight finish. Drink now."

 

Wine Enthusiast, Nov/2019

2016 -

"Aromas of spiced blackberry and cherry meld with accents of smoke, stone and blood orange. The well-meshed palate is built by fine tannins and bright acidity, rounded out by plenty of lush berry flavors. This is smooth and supple in feel, with a well-balanced nature that makes it a great crowd-pleasing wine."

 

Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Mar/2020

2016 -

"Here is a steady, easy-drinking red from Tommasi Family Estates. Their 2016 Primitivo di Manduria Masseria Surani Heracles would pair with a standard pizza with spicy sausage. Simple notes of dried blackberry and plum are backed by lighter notes of tobacco and moist earth."

 

Darren Oleksyn, Calgary Herald, Jan/2018

2015 -

"Puglia, in the southeastern "boot" of Italy, doesn't get the love of Tuscany, Piedmont or the Veneto, but there are producers that offer distinctive wines at reasonable prices. The hot climate makes it particularly well suited for reds that love the heat, such as Primitivo, which is known as Zinfandel in North America.Located at the extreme southern end of Puglia, Masseria Surani is one of several Italian wineries owned by Tommasi Family Estates. This southern estate carries a Greek theme - the area was colonized by the ancient Greeks in 700 BCE - with the wines named after gods from the nearby nation. Heracles was the son of the all-mighty Zeus.This punchy red boasts flavours of blackberry, black licorice, blueberry, earth and a bit of white pepper. Medium-full bodied, it has soft tannins and a persistent finish."

 

Gismondi on Wine, Apr/2018

2015 -

"One of the Tommasi family estates, they have purchased 80ha of land in Manduria, in the Salento area, for this primitivo-driven project. Heracles is 100 percent primitivo, fermented in stainless before ten months in oak. Rustic, ripe and compact, with ample ragged tannins housing black, sinewy fruits, dark chocolate cherry, olives, and bitter anise. The finish is drying, and you can feel the burning heat of the sun even in a surprising 13.5 degrees alcohol. Best matched with hearty ragu or red meat stews."

91 pts

Natalie Maclean, Oct/2016

2014 -

"Juicy and delicious Italian red wine with blackened plums and purple plum notes. Lots of toasty, charred oak in this Primitivo (aka Zinfandel). This robust Italian red wine is produced by Tommasi family's Puglia vineyards in southern Italy, first settled by ancient Greeks in 700 BCE, and therefore the wine is named in honour of Heracles. Lots of black fruit and oak. Perfect for grilled and barbecued meats. Primitivo food pairings: barbecued ribs, chicken wings, steaks rubbed well with Primitivo, hamburgers garnished."

90 pts

James Suckling, Jun/2018

2014 -

"A tight and slightly chewy red with blackberries and wet earth. Medium body and a fresh finish. Shows composure. Drink now."