Il Brutto Anniversario

Marking a decade of ultra-ripe, richly fruity wines made from ancient, sun-drenched vineyards, Il Brutto Anniversario is a luxurious red wine that’s packed with dark, spiced fruit.

So low yielding were these heirloom Negroamaro and Primitivo vines that the growers in Puglia were contemplating bringing in the bulldozer to rip them out, so they could plant something more profitable. However, champion of the region and its great traditions, Angelo Maci (three-time winner of ‘Winemaker of the Year’) persuaded them that the fruit of these old vines could make a magnificent rich red.

The vines’ twisted trunks may be ugly (‘brutto’) to outsiders, but they’re things of beauty to those in the know. Ultra-smooth, full-bodied and packed with ripe black cherry, blackberries and layers of vanilla and spice, this monumental red wine is a treat with hearty dishes.