JO is Gianfranco Fino's Negroamaro from Puglia, showing a different side of the estate behind ES. Selected fruit and patient maturation give this regional grape depth and polish. It combines dark fruit with cocoa, tobacco and spice, making it a rewarding southern Italian red for a substantial dinner.
- Aromas: Plum and darker fruit, with cocoa, tobacco, cinnamon and a smoky note bringing a savoury dimension to the fragrance.
- Palate: Rich and composed, with ripe fruit and a supporting tannic structure. Freshness gives definition to the fuller palate and helps carry the lingering finish.
- Style: A dry, full-bodied Negroamaro with concentrated fruit, savoury complexity and a polished texture developed through maturation.
- Winemaking: Hand-selected grapes undergo extended fermentation and skin contact in steel. The winemaking includes about twelve months in a mix of new and used oak, followed by bottle ageing; the wine is unfiltered.
- Cellaring: Drink now if well stored, with potential for further development in bottle. If ageing further, store in a cool and dark location. Before opening stand upright to settle sediment, and taste before choosing gentle decanting or further aeration.
- Food Pairing: Roast lamb, braised beef, mushroom dishes or mature pecorino; a little smoky char complements the tobacco and cocoa notes.
If ES has already introduced you to Gianfranco Fino, JO is a fascinating next bottle. Negroamaro brings its own savoury personality, with dark fruit and a satisfying finish. Open it with a generous main course and enjoy another perspective on this focused Puglian estate. Serve slightly cool, taste before deciding on decanting, and give the wine time to develop in the glass.
Gianfranco Fino
Gianfranco Fino is much admired as a cult winery. Gianfranco and Simona Fino began their wine adventure in 2004 with a small vineyard of bush-trained Primitivo in Puglia. From that modest starting point, they developed a highly individual estate focused on preserving old vines and producing wines with a strong territorial identity. Gianfranco describes himself as a craftsman of the vines, a fitting expression for a project built around exacting vineyard work. Primitivo is the principal grape, while Negroamaro provides another important voice in the collection.
The estate is best known for ES, its concentrated, expressive Primitivo di Manduria, which helped establish a reputation for ambitious southern Italian reds. JO explores Negroamaro, giving wine lovers a complementary view of Puglia’s character. The recognition is substantial and repeated: successive ES vintages have received Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri, alongside top ratings in other Italian guides. ES 2019, for example, earned Tre Bicchieri in the 2022 edition. For drinkers seeking depth, intensity and a distinctive producer story, Gianfranco Fino brings old-vine heritage together with an unusually focused personal vision.
