Es: two letters are all it takes for a wine that no longer needs introducing as a Primitivo di Manduria. Gianfranco Fino’s Es is the Primitivo – the one that, with a perfect union of history and innovation, has gone far, has been named “the best” more than once and has scored above 90 points. Es is pleasure, passion and instinct; Es is territorial identity, experimentation and memory; Es is structure, elegance and power.
Of all the wines of Puglia, Es is the most talked about. Some love it and some hate it; Es is no halfway house. The sun and soil of Manduria endow it with exclusive qualities: only this part of Puglia can do that, with its mild temperatures, sea breezes and Mediterranean character. On the red earth of the Manduria countryside, the vines are still trained as bush vines (alberello). Es, like the other wines of Gianfranco Fino, inherits this wealth along with that of an unaltered terroir. Terroir is key in competition: in 2016, too, the wines of Puglia, especially the reds, gave an excellent account of their qualities.
Es is the most decorated of all.
Bibenda’s 5 grappoli
Bibenda, the wine guide of the Fondazione Italiana Sommelier, awards its 5 grappoli (bunches) to the “sensational Es, an example of elegance and power on the palate”.
AIS’s 4 viti
AIS, the Associazione Italiana Sommelier, also says yes. Es receives its 4 viti (vines).
L’Espresso’s excellence
Only wines scoring above 18 are rated excellent. With a score of 18.5, L’Espresso gives Es that title.
The Touring Club’s Corona
The Touring Club Italiano agrees: Es makes it through the selection of the best and earns the Corona (crown).
DoctorWine’s score
The elusive Doctor says 96. An excellent score for Es.
Slow wine with Slow Wine
For Slow Wine, a Grande Vino is excellent in organoleptic terms. Es is a Grande Vino.
Veronelli’s three stars
And finally the stars: Veronelli gives 3. The requirement: a score of 94 out of 100 or higher. Es wins these too.
Congratulations to Es. It has elegance and structure, sensuality and silkiness. And then there is the allure of its land, as ancient in its winemaking traditions as it is modern in its capacity to experiment.
Have you ever tried Es? You can pair it with red meat, roasts or grills, or game, but also with cheeses or stews.
