Savvy wine buy: A-Mano ‘99 Primitivo

Max Jacobson

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000 | 9:15 a.m.

A-Mano is Italian for "by hand," and that's exactly how this wine is made, as opposed to in giant industrial presses. Mark Shannon, an American who lives in Italy, hooked up with the co-operative that owned these vines, and discovered that it was ready to replant and simply throw them away. "I can make good wine from these vines," he told the operators, and he's done it. Primitivo is thought to be a relative of Zinfandel. It's full-bodied and quite alcoholic, almost 14.5 percent, but you don't taste the alcohol when you drink it. You might taste raspberries, though.

Available at Nevada Wine Cellar, $9.99, and Lee's Discount Liquors, $8.99.

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