2019 Willow Creek District Primitivo - Pelletiere Estate

A rivetingly ripe and rugged parade of mulberry, succulent blueberry, plum, black cherry, and licorice swaggers with impressive generosity and power as captivating natural tones of briar, fennel, anise, and tobacco contribute a range of delightfully untamed brambly underpinnings. Notes of black pepper, cinnamon red hots, and chili flakes bestow terrifically interesting streaks of spiciness that intersect with intriguingly wild floral tones of cactus blossom, bougainvillea, and desert rose. Hints of broken limestone, dusty soil, and iron reveal surprising layers of mineral earthiness while subtle suggestions of leather and sandalwood provide bits of pleasant rusticity. Notably bold and concentrated on the palate while maintaining excellent liviness and balance throughout; exhibiting a fruit-forward yet beautifully savory presentation that combines excellent density and extraction with terrific freshness and finesse. Full bodied with moderate tannin backed by nicely elevated acidity. This 2019 Willow Creek District Primitivo by Pelletiere Estate is a robust and terroir expressive red from Paso Robles.

Commonly found in the Southern Italian region of Puglia where it produces rich and deeply colored red wine, Primitivo is a rugged dark-skinned grape that was only somewhat recently discovered to be genetically identical to American Zinfandel. This bottling, crafted by Pelletiere Estate using Primitivo grown at their estate vineyard in the Willow Creek District of West Paso Robles, provides an excellent example of the combination of complexity and power that has turned this previously underappreciated variety into an international star. This lavishly spills gobs of rich black, blue, and red fruits that remain nicely balanced despite their concentration, and it backs them with intriguing herbal notes, rugged florals, peppery spicy qualities, and limestone-laden earthiness. Although already quite approachable this possesses sufficient structure to age for 3-5 years with ease, and should develop even more wonderful savory and spicy qualities with time. Outstanding.