Del Prete 2021 Primitivo del Salento Nataly

Natalino Del Prete and his daughter Mina farm 10 hectares of mostly Negroamaro and Primitivo vines just north of Lecce in southern Puglia. Certified organic since 1994 (believe it or not, one of the first estates in Italy to do so), their vineyards are never treated with any chemicals (they look quite wild!) and the vinification is decidedly old-school, with minimal intervention and no sulfur added at any point, including bottling. Jules Dressner calls them "unpretentious peasant wines," and considering how long they've been making "natural wine" without calling it anything but "our wine," he's got a point! The Primitivo 'Nataly' is from 40 to 70 year-old vines planted on clay soils. There is always a hint of a rusticity and aromas of roasted meat, blackberry, earth and spice with the Del Prete wines, so they are not for everyone, but there are many fans of their wines who cherish their authenticity and Puglian charm.