If you love luscious Primitivo from southern Italy, Barbuto is a must-taste. It bursts with rich black fruit and sweet spice aromas, complemented by ripe cherry and plum flavors. Bold and irresistibly smooth, it also offers incredible value.

It’s from Puglia, located on the heel of Italy’s ‘boot,’ a “land of unmatched beauty,” writes The Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner. It’s also serious wine territory. Thanks to near-endless sunshine, grapes ripen to perfection and develop hugely concentrated flavors. The resulting wines are elegant and characterful, or, as top critic Robert Parker calls them, “sensational bargain wines with real soul.”

Barbuto (‘bearded’) is named for the mysterious sculpture of the bearded man in the Castel del Monte. Legend has it the Knights Templar worshipped the barbuto statue, hence the noble knight on the label.

This Primitivo however (which you might know as Zinfandel when crafted in California) is no mystery. It offers abundant black fruit, rose petal and sweet spice aromas, followed by ripe Amarena cherry and plum flavors on the palate. Rich and velvety, it’s delicious on its own or with roasted meats or hearty pasta dishes.

This sumptuous Italian red is so good (and offers such great value) that you might find yourself worshipping it, too. Claim your share today.