A Mano, Imprint Susumaniello, Salento, Puglia, Italy 2021

Californian Mark Shannon and Friulian Elvezia Sbalchiero have been making wine in Puglia for nearly 20 years. This, from the indigenous Susumaniello grape ('little black donkey' – referring to either it's heavy load of grapes or to its stubbornness, nobody is quite sure) features aromas of crunchy dark berries, rain on tarmac, earth and plenty of peppery spice. In the mouth, a juicy line of plummy fruit emerges, alongside berry, earth and spice notes.