Its colour is a bright ruby red. On the nose, it is clean and precise, with hints or morello cherries, wild berries and a moderate spiciness. The palate reveals a full and firm flavour, expressing all its intensity and elegance.

Saracosa is inspired by the ‘Super Tuscans’ – a style first developed in the 1970s. These wines kickstarted the region’s renaissance and became some of the most exclusive and expensive in the world. Saracosa is from the Barbanera family estate, where half the vineyards are in the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, and the remainder just beyond. In the 5-Star 2017 vintage Saracosa’s old vines delivered exceptional concentration. Dense, dark cherry and chocolatey tones make this a serious choice for pasta with pork ragù or bistecca alla fiorentina (steak with cannellini beans in tomato sauce).

Italy’s deep south is best known for big, smoky wines made from its prized local varieties – Primitivo, Negroamaro, and in this case the uniquely Puglian Susumaniello grape. In local dialect Susumaniello means something like “loaded like a donkey”, referring to the wine’s massive amounts of aroma and flavour. Pillastro’s creator Angelo Maci is a leading figure in Puglia’s recent quality revolution, and is fervently proud of local traditions and rare grape varieties. As fans of southern Italian wines – and Pillastro fans in particular – will agree, Puglia offers “undreamed-of character and potential” (Hugh Johnson), and mouthwatering Susumaniello is the supreme example of this. Serve in large glasses with braised lamb shanks or caponata.

It’s no coincidence Pillastro is one of our bestselling Italian reds – customers love all that richness, warmth and bold, ripe fruit. Pillastro comes from Puglia, in Italy’s deep south, best known for big, smoky wines made from prized local varieties Primitivo and Negroamaro. It is made by Angelo Maci, a leading figure in the quality revolution of the last two decades, whose cellar Cantine Due Palme has twice been named Winery of the Year. Angelo made this wine purely from Primitivo, which produces rich, powerful reds with plenty of ripe fruit. A period of oak ageing has infused the wine’s generous plum and damson character with notes of spice and vanilla. Enjoy with hearty casseroles, pasta with a rich tomato sauce, or garlic roasted lamb.

Pillastro Nero is a true ‘black red’ – from the ornate label to the deep, dark wine inside. Angelo Maci (winner of three Vinitaly Winemaker of the Year titles) crafted it from Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Primitivo (40%) grown on his 80-year-old alberello-trained bush vines in Puglia, Southern Italy. These gnarled heirlooms yield precious few grapes, meaning each one is a knot of intensely concentrated flavour. In the winery, Angelo treated it to six months’ barrel ageing, imparting toasty oak and sweet spice notes to the wine’s lusciously ripe, black- and bramble-fruit flavours. This is a stunner. Enjoy.

Nero di Troia is named after the city of Troia in northern Puglia, which Greek hero Diomedes is said to have founded after helping to defeat the city of Troy with the famed Trojan Horse. There, outside the city walls, he planted vine cuttings, which flourished and were named Nero after their dark skin grapes and the deep coloured wine they produced. Rich, warming, full-bodied Corsiero is rich and velvety with intense black fruit and spice flavours … just perfect served with full-flavoured pasta and rich meat dishes.