San Marzano, 'Anniversario 62' Primitivo di Manduria Riserva 2020
Product Information
Country Italy
Region Puglia
Grape Variety Primitivo
Vintage 2020
ABV 14.5%
Discover the velvet luxury of Puglia's ultimate flagship with the exceptional 2020 vintage of San Marzano 'Anniversario 62' Primitivo di Manduria Riserva.
Crafted by the historic Cantine San Marzano to honour their founding year (1962), this signature release represents an unbeatable value proposition for connoisseurs hunting for a truly opulent red wine under £30. Sourced from ancient, low-yielding bush vines grown in iron-rich Mediterranean soils, the 2020 vintage captures a masterclass balance of intense dark fruit preserves, warm barrel spice, and deep structural refinement.
Elite Pedigree & The 2020 Vintage
The 2020 growing season in Manduria, Puglia, delivered optimal ripening conditions with warm summer days and cooling coastal breezes. This spectacular vintage is defined by its remarkable harmony:
• Riserva Quality: Undergoes extended wood and bottle ageing to develop profound complexity.
• Old-Vine Concentration: Crafted from carefully selected heritage Primitivo vines for maximum flavour depth.
• Balanced Precision: The 2020 release leans slightly more elegant and fresh compared to more opulent years, ensuring perfect alcohol integration.
Why We Love It
While entry-level Primitivo can sometimes lean overly simple, the Anniversario 62 Riserva achieves incredible multi-dimensional layers. Following hand-harvesting and extended maceration for deep colour extraction, the wine is meticulously matured in a custom blend of French and American oak barrels.
It pours a magnificent, deep ruby red with near-opaque intensity and subtle garnet reflections at the rim. The highly expressive bouquet opens with rich notes of black cherry, ripe plum, and blackberry compote, seamlessly layered with sweet cinnamon spice, clove, vanilla, and hints of toasted oak. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich, and velvety smooth. The structural weight beautifully balances dark fruit jam and liquorice undertones against smooth tannins, carrying through to a long, persistent finish kissed with dark chocolate and tobacco.
Perfect Food Pairings
The powerful body, dense fruit profile, and luxurious oak integration of this Primitivo di Manduria Riserva make it a flawless partner for robust, savoury dishes:
• Slow-Cooked Showstoppers: Slow-braised beef short ribs or lamb shanks infused with rosemary and garlic.
• From the Grill: Chargrilled ribeye steaks, game meats, or gourmet venison burgers.
• Rich Italian Classics: Hearty tomato-based pasta dishes, wild boar ragù, or baked lasagna.
• Cheese Board: Strongly flavoured, mature hard cheeses like Pecorino Romano or aged Parmigiano Reggiano.
Serving & Cellaring Tips
To completely unlock the tightly woven layers of dark fruit preserves, warm barrel oak, and sweet spice, we highly recommend decanting this bottle for 30 to 60 minutes before serving. Serve slightly cool at 16–18°C in large, generous red wine glasses.
While its plush texture and ripe fruit profile make it incredibly seductive and ready to enjoy today, this Riserva has excellent cellar potential. It will continue to evolve gracefully through 2026–2032+.
