This estate was founded in its current guise in 1987 but has been in the family for generations. Tom Maresca in the ‘Italy 2013’ supplement to Decanter Magazine (February 2013) highlights Fatalone as being one of the very top Puglian producers with their Primitivos from the hilly enclave of Gioia del Colle combining power, freshness, and longevity in very fine wines. Such longevity and drinkability are the results of exacting attention to detail from the vineyard, through cellar and aging. The vineyards are situated in the Murgian hills on clay-limestone soils which contain fossilized marine creatures. In the cellar, only the naturally present yeasts are used and malolactic fermentation also starts naturally. Minimal sulfur is also used. Fatalone Riserva Primitivo spends 12 months stainless steel tanks, 12 months in Slavonic oak 750-liter-casks with the application of music therapy to optimize the spontaneous micro-oxygenation process and improve the fining of the wine, 6 months in bottle. This Riserva comes from the estate’s very best Primitivo grapes. It is full-bodied and full-on flavored with intense ruby red color. The nose shows ripe black fruit, toasted almond, and spices. The palate shows very ripe fruit, balanced with minerals and great freshness. Smooth and velvety black cherry, plum, blackberry, and mulberry with balsamic, clove, and cacao notes. It ends with toasted almonds flavors, very typical of the Gioia del Colle region.