100% Primitivo from the Murge hills within the Gioia dell Colle. The rocky, marine vineyards, planted in 1990, are fully organic with no irrigation and rich in fossils. The must is fermented on the skins in stainless steel for eight to nine days using only native yeasts. After nine months, the wine is racked to large (750 liter) Slavonic oak tanks for three months then bottled without filtration. The wine is kept for another nine months before release. Despite the 15% alcohol, this is a beautiful example of balanced Primitivo with notes of black cherry, toasted bitter almond, and a freshness that belies the stereotype of the grape being a high octane powerhouse. 

Azienda Agricola Petrera Pasquale (Fatalone) has been making wine in the Gioia del Colle region since the late 1800’s.  Like many producers in the area, bottling wine came late; most wines were sold in sfuzo, where locals would bring jugs and fill up from the tank. It was only in 1987 that the first bottles of ‘Fatalone’ were produced.  A winery with intense dedication to the earth, their certified organic farming practices prove to make exceptional Primitivo Gioia del Colle in three different styles, and one bianco made from the local Greco. Their belief in organic principles and renewables extends to the winery where only solar power is used to power the entire production. Fatalone is a zero emission winery.  Stainless steel is used for primary fermentation in all of the wines, and when oak is used, it is always large, old Slavonian oak.  Sulphur is not used during vinification, and only a minimum but stabilizing amount is used at bottling, leading to a remarkably purity of fruit.