A magnum is only the equivalent of two 750 mL bottles, but the size makes it seem special. Trouble is, most wines in this format taste atrocious unless they’re super-expensive. Score: 922015 Luccarelli Primitivo, Puglia IGT, Italy (LCBO 409631 $19.95, 1500 mL, available in store and online)Primitivo tastes juicy, full-bodied and quite similar to red Zinfandel from California — and this bottle is no exception. Expect a controlled punch of black and wild red cherry laced with inklings of dried plum, blueberry, toast, black peppercorn and wild mushroom. Smooth, ripe and full of fruit, this medium-bodied wonder offers a veil of ripe raspberry, dried cranberry, chocolate-cherry fruit that’s ripe but retains that stylish French restraint.

Source: thestar November 25, 2016 14:04 UTC