Pilùna is a monovarietal Primitivo. Our estate is a few kilometres outside the Primitivo di Manduria DOC zone, so Pilùna falls under the IGT Salento regulations. The name Primitivo derives from the Italian for “first native”, since this is the first black grape variety to be ready for harvesting. The name Pilùna denotes the ancient tuffstone containers used to preserve olive oil and wine.
PRODUCTION DISTRICT: Salice Salentino (Lecce).
ALTITUDE: 30 metres above sea level.
SOIL TYPE: Deep, dry clayey soil with limestone tuff. Average yield is 80 quintals per hectare.
TRAINING SYSTEM: Short-pruned, bush-trained, and spurred cordon.
HARVEST: The grapes are partly hand-picked and partly mechanically harvested, in the early morning, in the first ten days of September.
WINEMAKING METHOD: After crushing, the grapes are fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel vats, with 14 days’ maceration and scheduled pumping over.
AGEING NOTE: After malolactic fermentation, some of the wine is matured for 6 months in second- and third-fill French oak barriques, while the rest remains in stainless steel.
SENSORY PROFILE: Dark purply-red colour. Generous aromas of ripe red fruit (plums and cherries), black and morello cherry jam, blending into floral notes of violets, and spicy hints of pepper and vanilla with Mediterranean scrubland. On the palate it is velvety and richly extracted, warm, with well-judged tannin, good structure, and a nicely lingering flavour with hints of red berry jam and liquorice.
RECOMMENDED CELLARING: 5 years in bottles laid down in a cool, dark place.
FOOD PAIRING: Perfect with lamb cutlets. Highly recommended with roasted or braised red meat (pork and game), first courses with strongly flavoured sauces.