Masso Antico Primitivo del Salento Red Wine.

Masso Antico Primitivo del Salento is a 100% Primitivo red wine from Puglia's Salento IGT region, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This appassito-style expression earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast for the 2021 vintage and a remarkable 99-point rating from Italian critic Luca Maroni, placing it among the most decorated Primitivo wines in its price tier.

ABV: 14%

Origin: Salento IGT, Puglia, Italy

Varietal: 100% Primitivo

Producer: Schenk Italia SPA

Production & Heritage

Produced by Schenk Italia SPA, one of Italy's larger wine operations, Masso Antico sources its Primitivo grapes from vineyards in the sun-soaked Salento peninsula at the heel of Italy's boot. The vines are trained using the ancient Alberello (bush vine) method, a low-growing technique developed over centuries to cope with the region's intense heat and limited rainfall.

Aroma: The nose opens with dark cherry and mulberry, moving into violet, strawberry compote, and a savory undercurrent of black pepper and dried herbs. A hint of licorice lingers beneath the fruit, adding depth.

Taste: The entry is juicy and generous, with ripe blackberry and plum dominating the mid-palate. Firm but polished tannins provide structure, while flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, and baking spice emerge as the wine develops in the glass. The appassito treatment gives a perceptible density without veering into overt sweetness.

Best For

• Weeknight Italian dinners featuring pasta with hearty meat sauces

• Introducing red wine drinkers to the appassito style without the premium of Amarone

• Gifting to someone who enjoys bold, fruit-driven Southern Italian reds

• Bringing to a barbecue or cookout where grilled meats are the centerpiece