Tagaro, Pinataro Primitivo di Manduria, 2023

Grapes

Primitivo

Vintage report

The 2023 growing season in Puglia was shaped largely by heat and drought, with summer temperatures running well above historical averages across the heel of Italy. Rainfall was scarce through the key ripening months, which put pressure on yields — particularly for older, less deeply rooted vines — but rewarded growers with the patience and canopy management to hold on and avoid overripeness. It was a year that sorted the careful from the complacent.

What came out of that pressure is, on the whole, pretty exciting. Primitivo and Negroamaro both produced wines with serious concentration and firm but ripe structure — the kind of depth that feels earned rather than extracted. These are not delicate vintages for overthinking; they want food, preferably something off a grill. Most reds are drinking well now with a decant, though the better-structured examples will continue to reward patience until 2027 or beyond. A good vintage to get into.