LLS Portfolio Book

Gianfranco Fino

From the very beginning, Gianfranco Fino’s focus has been about quality: no compromises, no short- cuts, and obsessive attention to his vineyards. This attention to detail runs deeply, and Gianfranco works tirelessly to improve his vineyards, his estate, and his wines. He and his wife Simona share a deep and abiding passion for winemaking, which has led them on a fulfilling, lifelong journey—a journey which shows in every bottle of their high-quality, delicious wines. The wines consistently receive 90+ ratings from highly-regarded professionals and critics alike and are always a pleasure to drink. “Es” Salento Primitivo IGT Es is named in honor of Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. Translated from Italian, “Es” means the id, the psychological term for a component of the psyche. According to Sigmund Freud, “Es” is defined as instinct and wild passion; a passion which does not give in to rules or compromises. Es submits to one principle only: pleasure. It is the expression of primal instinct into wine. Cultivated in the maritime Agro di Manduria to utilize its unique red soils, this wine is made from 100% Primitivo. The grapes are lightly dried while still on the vine and harvested by hand at the end of August.

“Es” Primitivo di Manduria Riserva DOC Adding to Gianfranco Fino’s small line of products that have become the reference point for quality in the region of Puglia, Es Riserva is produced only from Gianfranco’s oldest Primitivo vines. These vines, which average 90 years of age, are planted at extremely high density for the region and yield only 400 grams of fruit per plant (very low). The fruit is then hand-sorted before being brought into the winery. Following fermentation, the wine matures in small oak barrels (50% new and 50% second passage) for roughly one year. A further 18 months is spent in bottle before the wine is ready for release. With only 2,000 bottles produced Es Riserva offers a rare view into one of Italy’s most quality-minded wine estates.

“Jo” Negroamaro Salento IGT Jo comes from Jonio, latin and Italian name for the Ionian Sea that laps the coast of Manduria. Moreover, onico is one of the synonyms of Negroamaro, the local varietal. There is light drying of the grapes while they are still on the vines. Harvested in September, the grapes are destemmed, softly crushed, and macerated in 70 HL stainless steel tanks for 3 – 4 weeks. The wine is aged in French oak barriques (50% in new barrels and 50% once used barrels).

“Es Piú Sole” Primitivo di Manduria DOC Dolce Naturale Carefully sorted and destemmed by hand. Maceration in 600 liter French oak barrels on the skins for two weeks with four punch downs daily. Resting for twenty four hours to remove the coarse lees and aged in French oak barrels. After about ten months in the barrels the wine is bottled without fining agents and rests another six months in bottle before release. Es Piú Sole is an elegant and distinctive “dolce” variant of Puglia’s Primitivo grape from this new master of the region’s long tradition of old vine wine estates.

WINES OF SOUTHERN ITALY

101