Primitivo is the bold red grape of Southern Italy's Puglia region, thought to be genetically identical to California's Zinfandel. Primitivo di Manduria is often regarded as producing the best wines but, as always, the name of the producer is paramount and there are some excellent examples from the Salento IGT. Wines are characterised by their rich, fruit-forward jammy flavours of blackberry, plum, cherry and dried figs. They are full bodied but not overly tannic and have spicy notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco. Alcohol levels are rarely much below 14.5% so these are best described as hearty wines. The best, such as those produced at Tenute Rubino, combine elegance with all the above. Enjoy with barbecue, grilled meats, hearty pasta and aged cheeses.